The Information
Literacy
User’s Guide
Edited by
Greg Bobish and Trudi Jacobson
Deborah Bernnard, Greg Bobish, Jenna
Hecker, Irina Holden,
Allison Hosier, Trudi Jacobson,
Tor Loney, and Daryl Bullis
, The Information Literacy
User’s Guide:
An Open, Online Textbook
Deborah Bernnard, Greg Bobish, Jenna Hecker,
Irina Holden, Allison Hosier, Trudi Jacobson,
Tor Loney, and Daryl Bullis
Edited by Greg Bobish and Trudi Jacobson
,©2014 Deborah Bernnard, Greg Bobish, Jenna Hecker, Irina Holden, Allison Hosier,
Trudi Jacobson, Tor Loney, and Daryl Bullis
ISBN: 978-0-9897226-2-9
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Published by Open SUNY Textbooks, Milne Library (IITG PI)
State University of New York at Geneseo,
Geneseo, NY 14454
Cover design by William Jones
, About this Textbook
Good researchers have a host of tools at their disposal that make navigating today’s com-
plex information ecosystem much more manageable. Gaining the knowledge, abilities, and
self-reflection necessary to be a good researcher helps not only in academic settings, but is
invaluable in any career, and throughout one’s life. The Information Literacy User’s Guide will
start you on this route to success.
The Information Literacy User’s Guide is based on two current models in information literacy:
The 2011 version of The Seven Pillars Model, developed by the Society of College, National
and University Libraries in the United Kingdom1 and the conception of information lit-
eracy as a metaliteracy, a model developed by one of this book’s authors in conjunction with
Thomas Mackey, Dean of the Center for Distance Learning at SUNY Empire State Col-
lege.2 These core foundations ensure that the material will be relevant to today’s students.
The Information Literacy User’s Guide introduces students to critical concepts of information
literacy as defined for the information-infused and technology-rich environment in which
they find themselves. This book helps students examine their roles as information creators
and sharers and enables them to more effectively deploy related skills. This textbook includes
relatable case studies and scenarios, many hands-on exercises, and interactive quizzes.
About the Authors
Deborah Bernnard is Head of the Dewey Graduate Library at the University at Albany,
State University of New York. She is also a veteran information literacy instructor. She was
a member of the committee that created UNL 205, Information Literacy, a one-credit un-
dergraduate course, taught by University at Albany librarians since 2000. She also teaches
a graduate course; Information Literacy Instruction: Theory and Technique. She has au-
thored several book chapters and articles on information literacy topics.
Greg Bobish is an Associate Librarian at the University at Albany, State University of
New York. He has taught credit-bearing information literacy courses since 2000 and enjoys
experimenting with new educational technologies and new pedagogical approaches as he
tries to convey the relevance of information literacy to his students’ lives. He has received
the Chancellor’s and the President’s awards for Excellence in Librarianship.
Daryl Bullis is the Lead Instruction Librarian at Babson College. He recieved his BA in
Classics and Russian from the University of New Hampshire, an MA in Russian and an
MLS from the University at Albany, State University of New York. He has taught credit
1
https://www.sconul.ac.uk/groups/information_literacy/publications/coremodel.pdf
2
http://crl.acrl.org/content/72/1/62.full.pdf
Literacy
User’s Guide
Edited by
Greg Bobish and Trudi Jacobson
Deborah Bernnard, Greg Bobish, Jenna
Hecker, Irina Holden,
Allison Hosier, Trudi Jacobson,
Tor Loney, and Daryl Bullis
, The Information Literacy
User’s Guide:
An Open, Online Textbook
Deborah Bernnard, Greg Bobish, Jenna Hecker,
Irina Holden, Allison Hosier, Trudi Jacobson,
Tor Loney, and Daryl Bullis
Edited by Greg Bobish and Trudi Jacobson
,©2014 Deborah Bernnard, Greg Bobish, Jenna Hecker, Irina Holden, Allison Hosier,
Trudi Jacobson, Tor Loney, and Daryl Bullis
ISBN: 978-0-9897226-2-9
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Published by Open SUNY Textbooks, Milne Library (IITG PI)
State University of New York at Geneseo,
Geneseo, NY 14454
Cover design by William Jones
, About this Textbook
Good researchers have a host of tools at their disposal that make navigating today’s com-
plex information ecosystem much more manageable. Gaining the knowledge, abilities, and
self-reflection necessary to be a good researcher helps not only in academic settings, but is
invaluable in any career, and throughout one’s life. The Information Literacy User’s Guide will
start you on this route to success.
The Information Literacy User’s Guide is based on two current models in information literacy:
The 2011 version of The Seven Pillars Model, developed by the Society of College, National
and University Libraries in the United Kingdom1 and the conception of information lit-
eracy as a metaliteracy, a model developed by one of this book’s authors in conjunction with
Thomas Mackey, Dean of the Center for Distance Learning at SUNY Empire State Col-
lege.2 These core foundations ensure that the material will be relevant to today’s students.
The Information Literacy User’s Guide introduces students to critical concepts of information
literacy as defined for the information-infused and technology-rich environment in which
they find themselves. This book helps students examine their roles as information creators
and sharers and enables them to more effectively deploy related skills. This textbook includes
relatable case studies and scenarios, many hands-on exercises, and interactive quizzes.
About the Authors
Deborah Bernnard is Head of the Dewey Graduate Library at the University at Albany,
State University of New York. She is also a veteran information literacy instructor. She was
a member of the committee that created UNL 205, Information Literacy, a one-credit un-
dergraduate course, taught by University at Albany librarians since 2000. She also teaches
a graduate course; Information Literacy Instruction: Theory and Technique. She has au-
thored several book chapters and articles on information literacy topics.
Greg Bobish is an Associate Librarian at the University at Albany, State University of
New York. He has taught credit-bearing information literacy courses since 2000 and enjoys
experimenting with new educational technologies and new pedagogical approaches as he
tries to convey the relevance of information literacy to his students’ lives. He has received
the Chancellor’s and the President’s awards for Excellence in Librarianship.
Daryl Bullis is the Lead Instruction Librarian at Babson College. He recieved his BA in
Classics and Russian from the University of New Hampshire, an MA in Russian and an
MLS from the University at Albany, State University of New York. He has taught credit
1
https://www.sconul.ac.uk/groups/information_literacy/publications/coremodel.pdf
2
http://crl.acrl.org/content/72/1/62.full.pdf
