Information literacy in the workplace: A step toward library equity and organizational effectiveness
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation
Conference Strand
Critical Literacy
Target Audience
Higher Education
Second Target Audience
Other
Special libraries
Location
Session 5 Papers
Relevance
This proposal presents preliminary results of a study that explores the library leadership perspective on the value of literacy education for enhancing organizational effectiveness of contemporary libraries and information organizations.
Abstract
The centerpiece of the knowledge society, information literacy has transcended the boundaries of the traditional classroom and become synonymous with many cognitive and transferable skills, such as problem solving, information evaluation, and communication. This presentation takes the conversation about the transformative power of information literacy education beyond the confines of the educational setting per se and throws additional light on how information literacy is experienced by diverse information users in formal and informal learning contexts, particularly those occurring in the workplace.
The author discusses the progress of a recent and ongoing study that explores the library leadership perspective on the value of literacy education for enhancing organizational effectiveness. The study entails a survey of library leaders at fifty-five regional comprehensive universities who were asked to provide feedback on specific outcomes of information literacy initiatives in the workplace, including enhanced employee decision-making capacity, awareness of the current diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges, and ability to navigate complex information infrastructure. The author uses the study results to highlight the crucial role of library leadership behaviors to promote information literacy as a tool to achieve greater levels of inclusive excellence in organizational practices by creating more equitable working conditions for individual employees. The presentation also addresses some of the implications of this research for current library leaders, practicing librarians, and other library staff involved with, or interested in, issues of literacy education for working adults.
Presentation Description
This presentation discusses how information literacy is experienced by diverse information users in formal and informal learning contexts, particularly those occurring in the workplace. The role of library leadership behaviors for promoting information literacy as a tool to create more equitable working conditions and organizational practices is highlighted.
Keywords
information literacy, libraries, organizational effectiveness
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Trembach, Stan, "Information literacy in the workplace: A step toward library equity and organizational effectiveness" (2023). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 21.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2023/2023/21
Information literacy in the workplace: A step toward library equity and organizational effectiveness
Session 5 Papers
The centerpiece of the knowledge society, information literacy has transcended the boundaries of the traditional classroom and become synonymous with many cognitive and transferable skills, such as problem solving, information evaluation, and communication. This presentation takes the conversation about the transformative power of information literacy education beyond the confines of the educational setting per se and throws additional light on how information literacy is experienced by diverse information users in formal and informal learning contexts, particularly those occurring in the workplace.
The author discusses the progress of a recent and ongoing study that explores the library leadership perspective on the value of literacy education for enhancing organizational effectiveness. The study entails a survey of library leaders at fifty-five regional comprehensive universities who were asked to provide feedback on specific outcomes of information literacy initiatives in the workplace, including enhanced employee decision-making capacity, awareness of the current diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges, and ability to navigate complex information infrastructure. The author uses the study results to highlight the crucial role of library leadership behaviors to promote information literacy as a tool to achieve greater levels of inclusive excellence in organizational practices by creating more equitable working conditions for individual employees. The presentation also addresses some of the implications of this research for current library leaders, practicing librarians, and other library staff involved with, or interested in, issues of literacy education for working adults.
