Computer Literacy Does Not Equal Research Literacy

In the article "Not Enough Time in the Library" from the Chronicle of Higher Education, Todd Gilman makes a case for why it is not enough just to give students (even digital natives) the technology and tools to do research; they still need research education provided by librarians. He writes, "Research education involves getting students to understand how information is organized physically in libraries, as well as electronically in library catalogs and in powerful, sometimes highly specialized commercial databases." This is critical for students hoping to "function effectively in our information-driven economy." Gilman suggests several ways faculty can work with the library to bolster research skills including dedicating class time to practicing search strategies, taking a tour, reinforcing a lesson with a library assignment, and encouraging students to use library materials in support of their class work. The ECC Library is happy to work with any faculty member interested in incorporating library instruction to strengthen their students' research skills in either the online or physical classroom.

Amazon Kindle Library Project

Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library recently attempted an interesting pilot project combining technology with an innovative new library service. Their plan was to fill faculty requests for interlibrary loan materials by lending Amazon Kindles with an e-book version of the requested item. Unfortunately, the pilot has been discontinued due to lack of written agreement with Amazon. Taking a look at such initiatives from other libraries can inspire new ways of thinking about how we can harness emerging technologies to improve library service for ECC faculty and students.