SPU Library First-Year Information Literacy Program
The SPU Library First-Year Information Literacy Program is designed to equip students with essential skills for academic success and lifelong learning. Tailored specifically for first-year students at the NQF level 5, this program focuses on developing key competencies in accessing, evaluating, and managing information.
Think of information literacy as your "study toolbox." It’s about learning how to find the right information, evaluate whether it’s reliable, and use it properly to excel in your assignments and projects. Whether you're writing an essay, preparing for exams, or researching a new topic, the skills you gain here will guide you not only through your studies but also in life.
What Will You Learn?
Our program has 6 exciting units, each focused on a specific area to help you grow as a confident student:
- Getting to know your library: Learn about the services, spaces, and collections that SPU Library provides to support your academic success.
- Assignment Support: Understand assignment structures, rubrics and types of information sources.
- How to find Books & Articles: Discover how to find credible, relevant, and reliable information sources like e-books and articles.
- Referencing & Citation: Master the art of organizing, storing, and citing information correctly using academic styles.
- Plagiarism & Copyright: Understand the importance of academic integrity and how to avoid plagiarism while respecting copyright laws.
- Artificial Intelligence Literacy: Explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support your studies and learn to use AI tools responsibly.
Why is This Program Important?
You’ll gain the skills to:
- Find and use the right information for your assignments.
- Think critically about what you read or hear.
- Avoid plagiarism by learning how to credit your sources properly.
- Navigate online library catalog and resources confidently.
- Understand how AI can make learning more effective.
This program is designed to be simple and flexible. You can work through each unit at your own pace—there’s no rush to complete everything all at once. Think of this as your personal guide to academic success.
We’re excited to help you build these important skills as you take your first steps into university life. Let’s get started! 😊
Viva la Library (The Information Literacy Song) by James McGrath
Information Literacy in the Real World by Modern Librarian Memoirs
What is Information Literacy?
Information literacy encompasses a set of skills, behaviors, attitudes, and values that are vital to how we interact with and use information. These abilities are fundamental to learning, academic work, and research. It is an essential trait of a knowledgeable scholar, a responsible and informed citizen, and an independent learner.
Information literacy involves the capacity to think critically and evaluate the information we encounter and use with fairness and accuracy. A student proficient in information literacy should be able to:
- Perform effectively and confidently in any work environment, regardless of their level.
- Identify the need for information, understand its purpose, scope, and type, while considering limitations such as time, format, relevance, and accessibility.
- Recognize that information is available in various formats and locations, both physical and digital.
- Locate and access available resources, understand where to find them, how to use them, and assess the strengths of different types of resources to know when and how to use them effectively.
- Analyze information and apply it to produce accurate, well-presented research outcomes or to acquire new knowledge and insights.
- Recognize the importance of using information responsibly, with cultural awareness and ethical considerations, including professional, business, and personal ethics.
