Information literacy for history students - Barbara McCormack, Pauline Murray

Information literacy for history students: experiences at Maynooth University Library

Barbara McCormack, Pauline Murray

Inaugural CONUL Conference, June 3rd & 4th 2015

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Maynooth University Library

Russell Library

John Paul II Library

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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Library, Maynooth University website

Research Support to Staff and Students

Academic Liaison

Information Skills TutorialsDevelopment of

Information Skills Programmes

Role of Subject Librarian

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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Department of Modern History

Academic staff = 17+

Undergraduate modules• 1st year: 8

– 1st year students c. 500• 2nd year: 28• 3rd year: 27

Postgraduate programmes include:• PhD• MLitt• MA European History• MA Irish History• MA Military History & Strategic Studies• MA Historical Archives

Librarian’s view– Faculty of Arts– Specialised subject

• Local Historians• Country House• Military Historians• Art Historians

– Library collections• Print• Special

– Long established, excellent relationship– Supportive staff– Receptive students– ‘Expert’ students

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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Working with History Department

o Classes

o Individual students, researchers & staff

o External readers / queries

o Departmental meeting

- Initial introduction & welcome

o Liaison- Wide ranging

o Library collections- Donations- Joint purchases

o Events- Book launches

- Exhibitions

o Board of the Faculty of ArtsPauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU,

CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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What is Information Literacy?‘Integrating Information Literacy into the Curriculum’ CONUL Advisory Committee on Information Literacy (ACIL)

Ethical and responsible use

Communicate / share findings

Evaluate resultsWork with or exploit results

Understand: resources availableHow to find information

“CONUL is committed to...

o collaborative working partnerships between its librarians & institutional teaching staff

o to support the successful development of students’ Information Literacy skills and knowledge”.

It recognises:

o “the importance of a disciplinary context for Information Literacy

& o the benefits of a curriculum-integrated

approach”.

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

Manage your findings

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Classes with ‘History Librarian’

Library classes include• 1st year ‘Practising History’• Local History• The Irish Country House• Population change in Ireland• Cartographic History• Military History• Art History

– Baroque– Renaissance– Georgian

• History of Christianity• M.Litt. & PhD• Irish Urban Settlement• Historical Archives

Looking at library resources• Awareness of what we have & potential relevance• Confidence to use efficiently

• Classes planned with lecturer• Lecturer usually present• Embedded into class timetable

• Live demonstration, online resources• Selection of print material

• Summary handouts– Students’ aide memoir & librarian’s back up

• Avoid PowerPoint, unless essential• ‘Hands on’ as much as possible

– Slower pace, more effective class• Exercises, during or after class

– Not “Test” or “Exam”

• Same core resources & core skills for many classes

• Feedback

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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Classes

• Large lecture theatres

• College class-halls

• Library training rooms

• Kilkenny campus

• 1st year ‘Practising History’ core module– Ideal first meeting

• 2nd & 3rd year ‘History Special Topic’ classes– Very focused & motivated

• Postgraduate groups– Wide range of student levels

• Mature students– Additional support– Established historians

• Feedback

• Print collections, bring selection to class– Open shelves– Reference– Special Collections

• Map collection– Ongoing projects

• Special Collections

• Moodle VLE– Notes & links on

lecturer’s class page

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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Individuals• Class follow up

• Library Desk referral

• Library colleagues

• Library website

• External

• F to F– Consultation Room– Subject Librarian desk

• Phone calls– ‘Talk through’

• Emails

Statistics

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015

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Future?

• Ongoing development essential• Review, change

• Advocacy

• Online, more– Website– Libguides– Library ‘Chat’

• Clinics in departments’ locations

• Other classes, other lecturers

• Use ‘Moodle’ more– In advance of class – Ongoing discussion forum– Did with ‘Generic Skills’ PhD

• Plan– Especially time management!

Pauline Murray & Barbara McCormack, Library MU, CONUL Annual Conference 2015