What is Information Literacy and why is it important?

Information Literacy is a key attribute of The Sheffield Graduate. It means knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to use and communicate it. Our Information Literacy web pages include a video explaining why academic staff say it is important. 
 

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. The pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Getting Started page has some links to some of our tutorials on effective note taking, understanding your reading list and effective note taking. There is also a short video that explains what your subject librarian can do for you

Finding and searching databases

Databases index information about published journal articles, conference papers and other academic documents.  Find databases that are useful for your subject in our Subject Guides. 

If you know the database you want to use, search for the name of the database on the University Collections tab in StarPlus, click ‘View It’, ‘View full text’ and then ‘Connect to...’ under the Quick Links on the right-hand side.

It is worth spending time thinking about your search before you start - list relevant keywords and search terms and any alternatives. For example, if you are searching for global warming, you may also want to search for climate change and greenhouse effect. Consider different spellings such as colour/color, and any technical terms or abbreviations.

If you are searching for a phrase, use quotation marks to keep the words together, e.g. “global warming”, “European Union”.   An asterisk can be used to end a word in a variety of ways. For example, ethic* will find results that include ethic, ethics, ethically, ethical. This is also useful for words which can have alternative spellings, for example, behavio* will find results for behaviour(s), behavior(s), behavioural or behavioral.
 
Our Successful Database Searching tutorial will help you plan your search further. Or why not come to one of our Information Skills Workshops in the Diamond?

Information Skills Workshops

Our information skills workshops start up again in the Diamond this week! Book here
 
Whether it's finding & evaluating information for your assignment, referencing correctly & avoiding plagiarism, or finding what's in the news from our online newspapers databases  - we have a workshop for you.

Information Literacy - Getting Started

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. These web pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability. The Getting Started page has links to some of our tutorials including effective note taking, and using StarPlus, the library catalogue.

Information literacy - employability

Being information literate will help you in the workplace and when applying for jobs. Find out more about the importance of information literacy in the workplace by looking at this webpage. It explains what information literacy means and provides useful links to online tutorials and further information. There is also a link to case studies of University of Sheffield graduates, who have reflected on their experiences at work.

Information literacy - research skills

Find out how information literacy can help you with conducting research. This research skills page includes links to useful tutorials on writing a literature review, searching databases and organising references.

Information literacy- writing assignments

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. These web pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Writing assignments page links to useful tutorials on searching for information, evaluating information, referencing, and plagiarism.

Information literacy - getting started

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. The Library’s information literacy webpages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Getting Started page has links to some of our tutorials on effective note taking, understanding your reading lists and using StarPlus, the Library catalogue.

Searching for Researching workshop

Searching for researching your first independent project: hands-on workshop

Do you need to find literature for your first independent research project? Not sure where to start? Tried searching but retrieving too many or too few results? Then come along to a hands-on Searching for Researching workshop at 301: Student Skills and Development Centre.

Run by the University Library, this workshop will show you how to find the best resources for your first research project. You will learn about different information sources and how to create an effective search strategy to produce a manageable set of relevant results. You will also consider evaluating information, referencing and plagiarism - making sure you use your own ideas and reference the work of others properly.

There are 3 places are still available on the workshop TOMORROW. Book your place: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/services/workshops/searching

Searching for Researching workshop

Searching for Researching is delivered by The University Library at 301: Student Skills and Development Centre, which is located at 301 Glossop Road. The workshop will show you how to find the best resources for your research project. You will learn about different information sources and how to create an effective search strategy to produce a manageable set of relevant results. You will also consider evaluating information, referencing and plagiarism – making sure you use your own ideas and reference the work of others properly.

Places are still available on the workshop for the following dates:

• Thursday 20 November 2014 (18:30-19:30)
• Tuesday 2 December 2014 (12:00-13:00)

For more information and to book your place, please click here.

Information literacy: research skills

Find out how information literacy can help you with conducting research. The research skills pages include links to tutorials on writing a literature review, searching databases and organising references.

Information Literacy - Getting Started

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. The Library's Information literacy web pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Getting Started page has links to some of our tutorials on effective note taking, understanding your reading list and using StarPlus, the library catalogue. There is also a short video that explains what your subject librarian can do for you.

Five quick tips for a better grade

How to make information work for you! Come to tomorrow's bite-size session in the Information Commons 12.10-12.30pm in Collaboratory 2. Top tips on finding the best information for your needs and using it wisely. 

 

This session is open for all University members and there will be some time for questions and discussion afterwards. No need to book, just drop in.
 

Be a Sheffield Graduate: be information literate

Information Literacy Case Studies

“Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.” (CILIP, 2004).

Information literacy skills learned at University will help you to get jobs and succeed in the workplace.  Have a look at our case studies from Sheffield University Graduates to see how they use Information Literacy skills in their working lives.

Visit the Library webpages for guidance and tutorials on Information Literacy.

Stand out from the crowd: bite-size session

Next Wednesday's Bite-size session in the Information Commons is called Stand out from the crowd: researching employers. This session on employer information is led by our Social Sciences Faculty Librarian, Maria Mawson.  Employer research is an essential part of preparing for a job application or interview. Everybody else will use Google. Find out how specialist databases provided by the library can help you to stand out from the crowd.

The session on Wed 1st May takes only 20 minutes and starts at 12.10 in IC Collaboratory 2. No need to book, just turn up. The session is open to all staff and students and cookies are included!
Check the IC blog for future sessions and to see recordings of past ones.

Library sessions in 301: Student Skills and Development Centre

The University Library is collaborating with 301: Student Skills and Development Centre.

The first sessions, ‘Searching for Researching: finding quality resources for your undergraduate research project’ are aimed at any undergraduate student who is carrying out their first research project. These will be held on the following dates:

Tuesday 16th April 5.30-6.30pm (next week!)

Friday 17th May 12-1pm

The last session this semester, ‘Searching for Research: finding quality resources for your research project’ is aimed at Taught Postgraduates and any Undergraduates working on their dissertations over the summer. This will be held on the following date:

Thursday 6 June 5.30-6.30pm

For booking information please see here.

Tell us what you think!

It was really good to meet some of your student reps at recent student-staff committees I've attended, and it's very helpful for us to hear your feedback and answer your questions. Examples of queries which have come up recently include ebooks and how to use them, where to find guidance on referencing, and how you can let us know about books you'd like us to buy for the library.

Check out our new information literacy pages, use our information skills tutorials for guidance on referencing and avoiding plagiarism and use our online recommendation form to tell us about books you'd like to see in the library.

We want to hear from you, whether that's to tell us things we might improve on or to let us know other ways we might help support you in your course work. If there's nobody from the library at your student-staff meetings - invite us!

Brenda
Liaison Librarian

New web pages to improve your information skills

Be sure to have a look at our fantastic new web pages on information literacy.

Find out what information literacy is and what it can do for you by watching the video ‘What is Information Literacy?’

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. The pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The information literacy pages are one part of our Learning and Research Services web pages which have also had a face lift to make finding information easier.

Find useful subject resources, get help with research, find your librarian, and see how they can help you.

All from Learning and Research Services on the Library home page.

Information Skills Resource

9-13 November 2009 is information literacy week

How do you know that?
How do you know it is right?
How are you going to use that information?
Will you act ethically?

How highly would you rank your information literacy skills?

Did you know that students who can demonstrate the skills of information literacy not only perform better academically but also have better career prospects? Many students learn these skills from the University of Sheffield Library’s online tutorials.

Be an information literate graduate by learning how to:
Define a search question
Search for information
Evaluate information
Synthesise information
Cite and reference information

Visit the tutorials at:
www.librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk