Reading Report 3/17

This was an extremely relevant reading for the Library 103 class. This article discussed the need for information literacy in colleges, and how many students are not proficient enough to find the information that they are seeking. This is a problem for many professors. For example, when asked to do research for a paper or research assignment, many students simply rely on Wikipedia or Google instead of searching scholarly databases that libraries offer for free to students. Although as we have found in our Library 103 class, Wikipedia does offer sound information for most cases, the information can be edited by anyone so there is no guarantee that its 100 percent accurate. Many colleges are requiring that students are proficient in information retrieval by requiring library classes, a passing of a standardized test in information retrieval, or other means of proving proficiency. This is helping to broaden student’s horizons when it comes to retrieving information for research topics. According to the article, most colleges are in favor of information literacy proficiency, but there are some that are not. They argue that many of the research techniques that are being taught are not relevant any more, for example Boolean phrases. I can agree with this statement. I am completely capable of finding valid research on library databases and I have never used Boolean phrases until I had to for Library103. I think that it should be required that students prove proficiency in retrieving information by a means other than just Google or Yahoo, however. I think that a requirement of a library class for graduation is a good idea for future students.