Creating a Comprehensive Information Literacy Program: One U.S. Library’s Experience

Designing and implementing a comprehensive Information Literacy (IL) program can be a daunting task. Drawing on the experience of libraries that have implemented such programs can provide valuable suggestions as well as cautionary tales. The University of Maryland Libraries have had more than ten years experience in delivering information literacy instruction to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Over that time period we have learned many lessons about designing and administering a program that seeks to reach as many students as possible. The program attempts to be comprehensive and is based on the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education developed by the Association of College and Research Libraries (2000). The cornerstone of the program is extensive collaboration with campus partners to assure that students receive effective instruction. The successes, challenges and lessons learned may be of interest to librarians as they develop and refine their IL programs. The University of Maryland is a publicly funded university with more than 25,000 undergraduate and 9,000 postgraduate students in 13 schools and colleges (faculties). Th