The URI Libraries Information Literacy Program is meant to guide all information literacy instruction that is offered by librarians at the University of Rhode Island to members of the URI community and the general public.  Updated every three years, the plan is guided by the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, which uses the following six frames that encompass foundational concepts and sets of knowledge practices and dispositions that may be centered in information literacy instruction:

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual
• Information Creation as a Process
• Information Has Value
• Research as Inquiry
• Scholarship as Conversation
• Searching as Strategic Exploration

Note: these are not meant as prescriptive, but broadly descriptive as frames that would be most appropriate at the specific level of instruction. Specific lesson plans will vary greatly (and LIB courses, especially, might introduce concepts much earlier).

Navigating the 2023-2026 Information Literacy Plan

This plan is organized by the target audience for information literacy instruction services.  Each section has four distinct pieces.  First, ACRL IL Frames clarifies which frames are centered for each target audience, and at what levels (introduced, reinforced, mastered) they are incorporated.  Second, User Needs identifies the specific needs of the target audience.  These are then mapped across Library Offerings to address which needs are addressed in current library outreach, tools, and services.  Finally, Potential Future Plans outlines potential directions for future library instruction services and outreach.

ACRL IL Frames:

• Information Creation as a Process (Introduced)
• Research as Inquiry (Introduced)
• Searching as Strategic Exploration (Introduced)

User Needs:

1. Generalized basic orientation to URI Libraries 
2. Introduction to college-level research paradigm

Library Offerings:

Talent Development Summer Program (1, 2)

Fall Open House and Spring Welcome Days (1)

WRT 104: Writing to Inform and Explain for Concurrent Enrollment/High School Students (2)

ACRL IL Frames:

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual (Introduced)
• Information Has Value (Introduced)
• Research as Inquiry (Introduced)
• Scholarship as Conversation (Introduced)
• Searching as Strategic Exploration (Introduced/Reinforced)

User Needs:

1. Orientation to library spaces & services 
2. Introduction to college-level research paradigm

Library Offerings:

Getting Started @ the Libraries Guide (1, 2)

Subject & Course LibGuides (2)

InfoRhode Tutorials (2)

First-year orientation (1)

International student orientation (1)

One-on-one support at the Research Help Desk (1, 2)

WRT 104: Writing to Inform and Explain (2) 

WRT 106: Introduction to Research Writing (2)

LIB 150: Search Strategies for the Information Age (2)

LIB 250: Information Research Across Disciplines (2)

Potential Future Plans:

• Integrate IL sessions for 100- and 200-level courses with B4 Student Learning Outcome of Information Literacy (2)
• Develop LIB 100 as an online course (1, 2)
• Increase the number of LIB 150 sections offered each semester (2)
• Reinstitute orientation for transfer students (1)
• Reinstitute instruction for URI 101 (1, 2)
• Collaborate with Writing Center for research and writing workshops (2)

ACRL IL Frames:

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual (Reinforced/Mastered)
• Information Creation as a Process (Reinforced)
• Information Has Value (Reinforced/Mastered)
• Scholarship as Conversation (Reinforced)
• Searching as Strategic Exploration (Reinforced)

User Needs:

1. Experience with college-level research paradigm
2. Knowledge of multi-tool and multi-strategy approaches to research

Library Offerings:

Subject & Course LibGuides (2)

InfoRhode Tutorials (2)

One-on-one support at the Research Help Desk (1, 2)

Potential Future Plans:

• Integrate IL sessions for 300- and 400-level courses with B4 Student Learning Outcome of Information Literacy (1, 2)
• Provide capstone course support (1, 2)
• Reignite LIB 350: Current Issues of the Information Age (1, 2)
• Collaborate with Writing Center for research and writing workshops (2)

ACRL IL Frames:

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual (Mastered)
• Information Creation as a Process (Mastered)
• Information Has Value (Mastered)
• Scholarship as Conversation (Mastered)
• Searching as Strategic Exploration (Reinforced/Mastered)

User Needs:

1. Orientation to library spaces & services
2. Refresh concepts & skills
3. Sophisticated library research paradigm
4. Knowledge of multi-tool and multi-strategy approaches to research

Library Offerings:

Graduate School Orientation (1, 2)

IL Consultations with Librarians (2, 3, 4)

Subject & Course LibGuides (2, 4)

One-on-one support at the Research Help Desk (1, 2, 4)

Potential Future Plans:

• Provide additional workshops for graduate-level research (3, 4)
• Collaborate with Graduate Writing Center for research and writing workshops (3, 4)

ACRL IL Frames:

Any, depending on specific needs and interests

User Needs:

1. Orientation to library spaces & services
2. Refresh concepts & skills
3. Sophisticated library research paradigm
4. Knowledge of multi-tool and multi-strategy approaches to research
5. Knowledge of how to integrate information literacy into the classroom

Library Offerings:

New Faculty Orientation Programming (1, 5)

Information Literacy Toolkit  (1-5)

IL Consultations with Librarians (1-5)

Subject & Course LibGuides (2, 4)

Potential Future Plans:

• Revamp and expand IL Toolkit (1-5)
• Reintroduce Research Across the Disciplines Teaching Seminar (5)

ACRL IL Frames:

Any, depending on specific needs and interests

User Needs:

Any, depending on specific needs and interests

Potential Future Plans:

• Custom library instruction sessions for groups like the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, Master Gardeners Hotline Volunteers, URI Foundation