Library Outcomes Assessment & Information Literacy Committee Reports Now Available Online

For the last 3 years, the Library Outcomes Assessment & Information Literacy Committee has given the King's College Information Literacy Assessment to graduating seniors to measure their competency in using information. Last year, 2006 - 2007, we were able to compare our students' scores with those from two other institutions. This year, 2007 - 2008, we administered the assessment to a small sample of freshmen as well as to a small group of seniors, and we obtained comparisons with three other institutions.

Overall, our students tend to have average information literacy skills, as defined by the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards. In comparison with three other local institutions (Carnegie Classifications Master’s Colleges and Universities I, Master’s Colleges and Universities II, and Baccalaureate Colleges – Liberal Arts), BU students’ scores did not differ significantly on any measure. However, BU students scored the highest of the 4 schools on Standard 1 (determine the extent of information needed), Standard 2 (access the needed information effectively and efficiently), and on Application (assessing their ability to apply knowledge). Conversely, BU students scored the lowest on Standard 3 (evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base).

To obtain the full 2007-2008 Report click here. The 2006 - 2007 Report is available here. Both reports provide more background information on the assessment tool and in-depth analysis of the results.

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Neyer, Chair, Library OA & IL Committee.