Library role in information literacy recognised and rewarded

June 24th, 2010 by ssummersmorrow in blogs, computers, facilities, library services

For a number of years St George College Library has been fortunate enough to have a room in the library that the college had given to the lbirary for excusive use as a literacy room. This has meant that when teachers bring students in for literacy classes library staff have been able to give detailed instruction in literacy theory. The weakness has always been that to practice the theory students have had to move to a computer room within the library – this computer room can be difficult for library staff to use as teachers can prebook it class use. A further weakness with this set up is that all theory (up to one hour) must be given in one hit and then all hands on practice done in one go – not good teaching practice.
For several years library staff at St George have put together a proposal to obtain funds from the Institute to allow for the literacy room to be fitted out with computers. This year we were successful!!!! The library literacy room fit out is now complete and boast 16 computers, custom built desks, ergonomic chairs, a ceiling short throw projector, speakers and the capability to run VHS and DVD to the projector.
For the library staff this means that even if a teacher books a literacy session last minute they are guaranteed to have a room ready to go as the room can’t be booked by anyone else at the college. It means for students that they won’t need to listen to one hour of theory first – they can learn one aspect of literacy and practice it, listen to and learn the next section and practice it, etc.
Library staff at St George College wish to acknowledge the wonderful support of the College Management Team in recognising the important role that library staff play in increasing information literacy skills of students and in the need to library staff to always have a room at their disposal to run the many and varied information literacy sessions that they provide.
If library staff are not using the room and the library computer room is booked, teachers can also take classes into the literacy room.