1. Rebuilding the Seven
Pillars: the SCONUL
Research Lens
Moira Bent Newcastle University
Ruth Stubbings Loughborough University
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2. Seven Pillars: Original model
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http://www.sconul.ac.uk/groups/information_literacy/sp/sp/spportbw.gif Reproduced under CCL

3. Seven Pillars: Around the world
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World Map 1689 — No. 1 by Chuck “Caveman” Coker
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveman_92223/3185534518/ Reproduced under CCL

4. An Information Literacy Landscape
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5. Information Literacy Definition
Information literate people will demonstrate
an awareness of how they gather, use,
manage, synthesise and create information
and data in an ethical manner and will have
the information skills to do so effectively.
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6. Ooh, this
looks like a
pillar! How
does it work?
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7. Seven Pillars of Information Literacy
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8. Seven Pillars: New model
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9. Seven Pillars: Doughnut
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/topics_issues/info_literacy/ Society of College, National and University Libraries

10. Seven Pillars: Core
Identify
Scope
Understands:
• That new information & data is Understands:
constantly being produced and
that there is always more to • What types of information are
learn available
• That being information • The characteristics of the
literate involves developing a different types of information
learning habit so new source available to them and
information is being actively how the format can affect it
sought all the time
• That ideas and opportunities • The publication process in
are created by investigating / terms of why individuals publish
seeking information and the currency of information
• The scale of the world of • Issues of accessibility
published and unpublished
information and data •What services are available to
help and how to access them
• That new information & data is
constantly being produced and Is able to:
that there is always more to
learn • “Know what you don’t know”
to identify any information gaps
Is able to:
• Identify the types of
• Identify a lack of knowledge in information required to meet the
a subject area need
• Identify a search topic /
question and define it using • Identify the available search
simple terminology tools, such as general and
subject specific resources at
• Articulate current knowledge different levels
on a topic
• Identify different formats in
•Recognise a need for which information may be
information and data to achieve provided
a specific end and define limits
to the information need • Demonstrate the ability to use
new tools as they become
• Use background information to
available
underpin research
•Take personal responsibility for
an information search
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• Manage time effectively to
complete a search

11. Identify Scope Plan Gather Evaluate Manage Present
Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands:
•New information & data •What types of •Range of searching •How information & data •Information & data •Responsibility to be •Difference between
is constantly being information are available techniques available is organised landscape or their honest in all aspects of summarising &
produced & that there is •The characteristics of •Differences between •How libraries provide learning / research information handling & synthesising
always more to the different types of search tools access to resources context dissemination •Different formats of
•Being information information source •Why complex search •How digital •Issues of quality, •Need to adopt writing / presentation
literate involves available to them & how strategies can make a technologies are accuracy, relevance, appropriate data styles
developing a learning they may be affected by difference to the breadth providing collaborative bias, reputation & handling methods •Data can be presented
habit so new information format & depth of information tools to create & share credibility relating to •Role play in helping in different ways
is being actively sought found information information & data others in information •Personal responsibility
•The publication process
all the time •Need to develop •Issue involved in sources seeking & management to store & share
in terms of why
approaches to searching collecting new data •How information is •Need to keep information & data
•Ideas and opportunities individuals publish & the
such that new tools are •Different elements of a evaluated & published, systematic records •Personal responsibility
are created by currency of information
sought for each new citation to help inform personal •Importance of storing & to disseminate
investigating / seeking •Issues of accessibility question •Use of abstracts evaluation process sharing information/data information & knowledge
information
•What services are •Need to revise •Need to keep up to •Importance of ethically •How their work will be
•Scale of the world of available to help & how keywords & adapt date consistency in data • Relevance of Freedom evaluated
published and to access them strategies •Difference between free collection of Information to •Processes of publication
unpublished information •Value of controlled & paid for resources •Importance of citation research activities •Concept of attribution
and data vocabularies & •Risks involved in in their learning / •Need to curate and •Individual can take an
taxonomies in searching operating in a virtual research context archive research data active part in creation of
world ethically information through
•Importance of •Importance of traditional publishing &
appraising& evaluating metadata digital technologies
search results •Role of professionals in
advising with all aspects
of info management
Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to:
•Identify a lack of •“Know what you don’t · Scope their search •Use a range of retrieval •Distinguish between •Use bibliographic •Use the information &
knowledge in a subject know” to identify any question clearly and in tools & resources different information software if appropriate data found to address
area information gaps appropriate language effectively resources to manage information original question
•Identify a search topic / •Identify which types of · Define a search •Construct complex •Choose suitable •Cite printed & •Summarise documents
question and define it information will best strategy by using searches appropriate to material on their search electronic resources and reports verbally & in
using simple terminology meet the need appropriate keywords different digital & print topic using suitable writing
and concepts, defining resources •Assess the quality, referencing styles •Incorporate new
•Articulate current •Identify the available
and setting limits •Access full text accuracy, relevance, •Create appropriately information into context
knowledge on a topic search tools, such as
· Select the most information bias, reputation & formatted bibliographies of existing knowledge
•Recognise a need for general and subject
appropriate search tools •Use appropriate search credibility of the •Demonstrate •Analyse & present data
information and data to specific resources at
· Identify controlled techniques to collect resources found awareness of issues appropriately
achieve a specific end different levels
vocabularies and new data •Assess the credibility of relating to the rights of •Synthesise & appraise
and define limits to the •Identify different taxonomies to aid in •Keep up to date with the data gathered others including ethics, new & complex
information need formats in which searching if appropriate new information •Read critically, data protection, information from
•Use background information may be · Identify appropriate •Engage with their identifying key concepts copyright, plagiarism & different sources
information to underpin provided search techniques to use community to share & arguments other intellectual •Communicate
research •Demonstrate the ability as necessary information •Relate the information property issues effectively using
•Take personal to use new tools as they · Identify specialist •Identify when the found to the original •Meet standards of appropriate writing
responsibility for an become available search tools appropriate information need has search strategy conduct for academic styles in a variety of
information search to each individual not been met •Cortically appraise & integrity formats
information need •Use online & print help evaluate own findings •Use appropriate data •Communicate
•Manage time effectively
& can find personal & •Know when to stop management software & effectively verbally
to complete a search
expert help techniques to manage •Select appropriate
data publications &
dissemination outlets in
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•Develop a personal
profile in the community
using appropriate
personal networks &

12. The Seven Pillars:
Research Lens
Closely linked to the
Researcher Development Framework
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13. Researcher Development Framework
RDF produced by Vitae after
consultation with research
community
• Tool for planning,
promoting & inspiring
researchers to achieve
excellence
– Supports personal,
professional and career
development of
researchers in HE
– Describes the
knowledge, skills,
behaviours and
personal qualities of
researchers
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Reproduced with kind permission from Vitae
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/234301/Researcher-Development-Framework.html

14. RDF & IL
RDF recognises importance & place of information
literacy in research process, especially in Domain A
• Information seeking
• Information literacy &
management
• Synthesising
• Evaluating
• IPR/copyright
• Attribution/co-authorship
• Publication
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15. RDF & IL
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http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/researcher-development-and-skills/researcher-development-framework

16. RDF & IL
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17. RDF & IL
Sub-domains and key Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5
descriptors
D2 Communication and dissemination
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18. Seven Pillars: Research
Identify Scope
Understands: Understands:
• New knowledge & data is • What types of information are
constantly being produced & there is available
always more to learn
• The characteristics of the different
• Being information literate involves types of information source available
developing a learning/research habit to them and how the format can
so new information is being actively affect it
sought all the time
• The publication process in terms of
• Ideas &opportunities are created why individuals publish and the
by investigating/seeking information currency of information
• Scale of the world of published & • Issues of accessibility
unpublished information & data
•What services are available to help
• Different disciplines place greater and how to access them
emphasis on different types of
information & data Is able to:
• A researchers’ need for information
• “Know what you don’t know” to
will vary depending on the task at
identify any information gaps
hand, subject discipline & stage of
research
• Identify the types of information
required to meet the need
Is able to:
• Identify the available search tools,
• Identify a lack of knowledge in a such as general and subject specific
subject area
resources at different levels
• Identify a research topic / question • Identify different formats in which
and define it using simple information may be provided
terminology
• Demonstrate the ability to use new
• Articulate current knowledge on a tools as they become available
topic
•Recognise a need for information
and data to achieve a specific end
and define limits to the information
need
• Use background information to
underpin research
•Take personal responsibility for
research project
• Manage time effectively to
complete a research project Society of College, National and University Libraries

19. Identify Scope Plan Gather Evaluate Manage Present
Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands: Understands:
 New knowledge &  What types of •Range of searching •How information & data · The information and •Their responsibility to •Difference between
information are available techniques available is organised data landscape of their be honest in all aspects summarising &
data is constantly being
 The characteristics of •Differences between •How libraries provide discipline and how their of information handling synthesising
produced & that there is
the different types of search tools access to resources research fits in & dissemination, e.g. •Different formats of
always more to
information source & •Why complex search •How digital · Issues of quality, copyright, plagiarism & writing / presentation
 Being information strategies can make a technologies are accuracy, relevance, intellectual property styles
how they may be
literate involves difference to the breadth providing collaborative bias, reputation and right issues •Data can be presented
affected by format
developing a learning / & depth of information tools to create & share credibility relating to •Need to adopt in different ways
research habit so new  The processes for the
found information information and data appropriate data •Personal responsibility
information is being dissemination of
•Need to develop •Issue involved in sources handling methods to store & share
actively sought all the research outputs,
approaches to searching collecting new data · The importance of •Role they play in information & data
time including publication, in
such that new tools are •Different elements of a consistency in data helping others in •Personal responsibility
terms of how and why
 Ideas and sought for each new citation collection information seeking & to disseminate
individuals make their
opportunities are question •Use of abstracts · How the outputs of management information & knowledge
research results known
created by investigating •The need to match data •Need to keep up to research are evaluated •Need to keep •How their research
and the currency of
/ seeking information collection techniques to date and disseminated, systematic records outputs will be peer
information
 Scale of the world of the circumstances •Difference between free including the peer •Importance of storing & reviewed, evaluated and
 Issues of accessibility •Need to revise & paid for resources review process, sharing information & disseminated
published and
unpublished information What services are keywords & adapt •Risks involved in publication, other forms data ethically •Processes of publication
and data available to help & how strategies operating in a virtual of dissemination and •The role of •Concept of attribution
to access them •Value of controlled world research assessment professionals, such as •Individual can take an
Different disciplines
place greater emphasis vocabularies & •Importance of · The relevance of data managers and active part in creation of
taxonomies in searching appraising& evaluating citation and bibliometrics librarians, who can information through
On different types of search results to their research context advise, assist and traditional publishing &
information & data support with all aspects digital technologies
A researchers’ need for of information
information will vary management
depending on task at
hand, subject discipline
& stage of research
Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to: Is able to:
 Identify a lack of  “Know what you don’t •Scope their search •Use a range of retrieval •Distinguish between •Use bibliographic •Use the information &
knowledge in a subject know” to identify any question clearly & in tools & resources different information software if appropriate data found to address
area information gaps appropriate language effectively resources to manage information original question
 Identify a research  Identify which types of •Define a search •Construct complex •Choose suitable •Cite printed & •Summarise documents
topic / question and information will best strategy by using searches appropriate to material on their search electronic resources and reports verbally & in
define it using simple meet the need appropriate keywords & different digital & print topic using suitable writing
terminology concepts, defining & resources •Assess the quality, referencing styles •Incorporate new
 Identify the available
setting limits •Translate the search accuracy, relevance, •Create appropriately information into context
 Articulate current search tools, such as
•Select the most strategy to work in bias, reputation & formatted bibliographies of existing knowledge
knowledge on a topic general and subject
appropriate search tools different resources credibility of the •Demonstrate •Analyse & present data
 Recognise a need for specific resources at
•Identify controlled •Redefine a search resources found awareness of issues appropriately
information and data to different levels
vocabularies and strategy based on •Assess the credibility of relating to the rights of •Synthesise & appraise
achieve a specific end Identify different data taxonomies to aid in previous result sets the data gathered others including ethics, new & complex
and define limits to the collection methods searching •Sort and manipulate •Read critically, data protection, information from
information need Identify different •Identify appropriate results sets identifying key concepts copyright, plagiarism & different sources
 Use background formats in which search techniques (e.g. •Access full text & arguments other intellectual •Communicate
information to underpin information may be from finding contents information •Relate the information property issues effectively using
research provided pages and indexes to •Use appropriate search found to the original •Set & meet standards appropriate writing
 Take personal •Demonstrate the ability complex data mining) techniques to collect raw search strategy of conduct for academic styles in a variety of
responsibility for a to use new tools as they •Identify specialist data •Critically appraise & integrity formats
research project become available search tools appropriate •Keep up to date with evaluate own findings •Identify data curation •Communicate
 Manage own time
to each individual Society of College, National and University Libraries
new information •Know when to stop opportunities to ensure effectively verbally
information need •Engage with their •Use citation metrics as that research data is •Select appropriate
effectively to complete a
community to share an evaluative technique ethically stored for re- publications &
research project
information (e.g. citation counting, use in other projects dissemination outlets in
•Identify when the journal impact factors, •Use appropriate data which to publish

20. The Seven Pillars & You
• What are your thoughts on the revised
model?
• Can you envisage using it in your
institution?
• What other lens would you like to see
developed?
– Undergraduate
– Secondary School
– Further education
– Academic staff
– Work based
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