Information Literacy: IL competencies

Minimum levels of IL competencies required by members of the University

The Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) has established a framework for Information Literacy known as the Seven Pillars model. It has been adopted and modified for Information Literacy development at Loughborough.

Please note we see a graduation / progression in the development of Information Literacy skills and only indicate below the minimum competency levels for each group. The competencies should be attained by the end of the academic year for the UG.

Steps to Information literacy Undergraduate year 1 Undergraduate year 3 / Taught postgraduate Researcher / Academic

Recognise information need

1. Recognise the need to use information to support their studies.

2. Know where to ask for help in Library.

1. Recognise the need to use varied resources and good quality information in their assignments.

1. Recognise the need to use good quality information to support their research.

2. Understand the need to collaborate with librarians to ensure students have access to good quality academic material.

Construct strategies for locating information

1. Can select a limited number but appropriate sources to search for information to support their studies e.g.

  • Online reading list system
  • Library Catalogue

2. Can select appropriate key words from a reference to search for an item on the Catalogue, e.g. author and words from title of a book.

3. Can identify when to use different formats of information e.g. reference books versus journal articles.

1. Can select a wide range of appropriate sources to search for information to support their studies e.g.

  • MetaLib
  • Databases relating to their topic
  • Search engines / gateways

2. Can:

  • select appropriate keywords to find information on a particular topic.
  • combine key words using Boolean operators

3. Can recognise the problems of too much / too little information and plan accordingly.

1. Can:

  • use proximity searching
  • how / when to use controlled vocabulary.

Ability to locate and access information

1. Can access:

  • Online reading list system
  • Library Catalogue.

2. Can carry out a simple search and understand how to use additional features on the Library Catalogue.

3. Can locate material in the Library efficiently.

4. Know how to use basic services e.g. printing, photocopying, resource booking.

1. Can access:

  • MetaLib
  • Individual databases
  • Print and electronic material

2. Can select the appropriate resource category within MetaLib for their topic.

3. Can name at least one key subject resource for their department.

4. Can source the full text of an article using the:

  • the SFX link
  • the Library Catalogue.

5. Can select the appropriate authentication method for each electronic journal / database.

1. Can use the University's online reading list system to ensure material is in the Library to support their students.

2. Understand Library procurement practices in relation to books and journals.

3. Can search for and access different formats of information, e.g. grey literature, ongoing research, completed research.

4. Can search systematically across selected resources both within MetaLib and the native interface of databases.

5. Can create current awareness strategies and use current awareness services such as Table of Contents and Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) tools

6. Can access material through the Inter-Library Loan service

7. Can access and utilise academic discussion lists
Ability to evaluate information

1. Can recognise whether content is relevant to studies.

2. Can recognise the bias and authority of information freely available from the web.

3. Can note down pertinent points.

1. Can evaluate whether content is relevant to their project.

2. Can recognise the bias of their chosen electronic resources.

3. Can redefine a search based on the information already found.

1. Can evaluate whether content is relevant to their research

2. Recognises when to undertake a cross search within MetaLib and a sophisticated search within the native interface of a database.

Ability to organise and apply information

1. Has a basic understanding of plagiarism.

2. Can note down complete references for use in a bibliography.

3. Can cite ideas obtained from others in text.

4. Can create bibliographies following a referencing standard.

5. Can process several pieces of information and piece it together to form a reasoned argument.

1. Can mark and download references for use in their academic work.

2. Understand the intricacies of plagiarism and how to avoid it

1. Knows how to use bibliographic management software to manage and manipulate bibliographic references.

2. Can build upon existing knowledge and progress into new areas of knowledge.

3. Can communicate research findings.

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