Implementation of the Finnish University Libraries National Information Literacy Recommendation into academic studies at the Kumpula Science Library, University of Helsinki

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document the co‐operation between a librarian of a science library and the teaching staff of a university in a project where a pilot course of information literacy was constructed. The central aim of the project was to integrate information literacy teaching into the bachelor‐level studies and thus implement the national recommendation to include information literacy competency in new degree structures based on the Bologna Declaration, which aims to harmonise higher education in Europe

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes how the pilot course of information literacy was constructed and conducted and presents the results of a feedback questionnaire which was sent to the students after the thesis course.

Findings

Based on the experiences of the teaching librarian and the feedback given by students and their teachers, the integrated information literacy course was found to be very useful and needed. After the course, students had a broader perspective on the information sources of their own subject area and on the scientific information seeking process as a whole.

Originality/value

This paper offers practical guidance for libraries in similar situations in how to co‐operate with the departments when integrating an information literacy course into thesis seminars. It also gives an example of how to construct and conduct such a course.

Citation

Kakkonen, A. and Virrankoski, A. (2010), "Implementation of the Finnish University Libraries National Information Literacy Recommendation into academic studies at the Kumpula Science Library, University of Helsinki", New Library World, Vol. 111 No. 11/12, pp. 493-502. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074801011094868