Information literacy : how do librarians and academics work in partnership to deliver effective learning programmes?

Abstract

The growing awareness in universities of the need to produce graduates who are information literate is resulting in the need for academics and librarians to provide learning programmes that develop students' information literacy. Unfortunately, little detail about the operation of information literacy programmes and the teaching partnerships between librarians and academics is reported in the literature. So a qualitative study was conducted at The University of Waikato to investigate how librarians and academics have worked together to develop students' information literacy. The study also sought to identify factors that influence the development and sustainability of successful collaborative partnerships. The results showed that the effectiveness of information literacy programmes depends on a shared understanding of information literacy theory by the teaching partners, as well as the allocation of appropriate resourcing to develop and deliver the programmes. Good communication systems and positive working relationships between the partners are some conditions that were found to be essential to the success of collaborative teaching partnerships, and useful strategies were identified for initiating, developing, and sustaining those partnerships.