What is Library Instruction?

Library instruction, also known as information literacy or Bibliographic Instruction (BI) is an important part of the library's mission. Developing the skills needed to locate, evaluate and effectively incorporate new information is a life-long challenge and an important part of the education experience. Library Instruction works well when presented in conjunction with a specific assignment so that the librarian can focus the instruction on particular sources, abstracts, indexes, electronic resources, and other types of informational materials that are used in the research and writing process. Library instruction is offered as part of the RHC100 Reinhardt College Orientation and in many other courses. The library will offer courses to help refine your research skills or introduce a new resource. Feel free to ask us to organize a session for you, your class or friends.

Why is Library Instruction Important?

Did You Know?
The amount of information produced in the world increases by 30% every year. (Source: http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/research/projects/how-much-info-2003/) Information explosion is a term that describes the rapidly increasing amount of published information and the effects of this abundance of data. For instance, according to Technorati, the number of blogs doubles about every 6 months with a total of 35.3 million blogs as of April 2006. As the amount of available data grows, the problem of managing the information becomes more difficult, which can lead to information overload or information fatigue. Fortunately, techniques to gather knowledge from an overabundance of electronic information (e.g., data fusion may help in data mining) have existed since the 1970s. (The beginning of true indexing and abstracting of information by librarians/information specialists.)  Source: from the infamous http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_explosion To the rescue, In come your Reinhardt College librarians…"Anyone who doesn't view a librarian as a potent force doesn't understand the job. Ideas are more powerful than bombs. Information is the way to take over the world. The role of a librarian is to make sense of the world of information. If that's not a qualification for superhero-dom, what is?" Deborah Jacobs, Seattle City Public Librarian upon the retirement of Nancy Pearl. The Seattle Times Thursday, July 10, 2003

How do I schedule an Information Literacy Class?

Reference Phone: 770-720-5586 E-mail: library@reinhardt.edu