The use of electronic information services and information literacy

Abstract

The study was undertaken as part of the LIRG/SCONUL Value and Impact study and sought to establish direct evidence of the impact of electronic information services (EIS) on Glasgow Caledonian University students, both past and present. Evidence of the spread of information literacy among students and alumni was also sought. An electronic questionnaire was administered to current students and a traditional paper questionnaire was sent to alumni using the University's alumni database as a sampling frame. The outcomes from both questionnaires were used to create a longitudinal picture and establish key indicators. It was found that respondents broadly understood the concept of information literacy although this was much more marked among alumni as a result of the experience of work. The relationship of work activity to information literacy was found to be central and alumni felt that an understanding of information literacy gave them a distinct advantage in job finding and seeking promotion. Unemployed alumni are correspondingly disadvantaged. In many cases information seeking skills, learned at university, could be directly applied to the workplace and scholarly methods were found to be spreading there although the attitude of employers was variable. It was also found that, although the library does have an impact on users, other factors such as progression and retention, and an innovative learning and teaching agenda are also important.