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Information Literacy Guide for Faculty

This guide is designed to help you learn about information literacy (IL) instruction services offered by NWACC Library

Why Partner with Librarians

Inviting a librarian into your class is one of the fastest ways to boost student success. Studies find that library instruction is associated with stronger research skills, improved academic performance, and better persistence (Erlinger, 2018; Soria, Fransen, and Nackerud, 2017). At NWACC, we use the Association for College Libraries' Information Literacy Framework for Higher Education to tailor every session to your assignment, helping students move past generic web searching and into credible, college-level sources.

ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education with six threshold concepts: Authority, Creation, Value, Inquiry, Conversation, and Strategic Searching.

Visual overview of the Association for College and Research Libraries' Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (ACRL Framework's 6 frames) used to guide NWACC library instruction.

Bottom line: Scheduling library instruction isn’t a checkbox. It’s a high-impact teaching partnership that pays off in student work now and in later courses.

References

  • Erlinger, A. (2018). Outcomes assessment in undergraduate information literacy instruction: A systematic review. College & Research Libraries, 79(4), 442–479. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.4.442
  • Soria, K. M., Fransen, J., & Nackerud, S. (2017). Beyond books: The extended academic benefits of library use for first-year college students. College & Research Libraries, 78(1), 8–22. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.78.1.8

What’s In It for Students / What’s In It for Faculty

For Students

  • Build real research confidence: find, evaluate, and use sources far beyond a quick web search.
  • Transferable skills: supports success in later courses, careers, and informed citizenship.
  • Stronger work, fewer missteps: students learn to use information ethically (quoting, paraphrasing, citing).
  • Evidence of impact: library instruction and use correlate with higher GPA and persistence (Soria, Fransen, & Nackerud, 2017).
  • Adaptable for any format: whether in-person, online, or hybrid, students can access library content in the way that fits their learning. Flipped classroom? We’ll provide pre-class materials so class time can focus on application.

At NWACC, information literacy means students can:

  • Develop and refine a research question
  • Create a research plan
  • Identify information sources relevant to their needs
  • Search those sources effectively
  • Critically evaluate what they find
  • Share their findings ethically
  • Synthesize their information appropriately for their audience (NWACC Course Catalog)

For You (Faculty)

  • Less grading frustration: fewer weak sources to troubleshoot, more time on content mastery.
  • Aligned to your assignment: we teach to your outcomes with no extra prep for you.
  • We’re the easy button: you lead subject expertise; librarians cover research and information literacy expertise.
  • Flexible delivery: one-time visit, scaffolded touchpoints, Class Librarian for repeated in-person visits, or an Embedded Librarian in Canvas.
  • Supports every teaching mode: hybrid or flipped? We’ll supply asynchronous guides, modules, or short videos to integrate seamlessly into your course shell.
  • Institutional fit: Information literacy is one of NWACC’s General Learning Outcomes — partnering with librarians is the simplest way to meet it.

Ready to make research easier and better for everyone? Use the request form below to share your preferred date(s) and what your students are working on. We’ll adapt to your format and take it from there. Or, if you’d rather plug something straight into Canvas, use the second form to request a digital learning object. We’ve got out-of-the-box modules ready to go, and we’re happy to create a custom item just for your students.

Evidence of Impact at NWACC

100%

Faculty said library instruction
definitely matched expectations

AY25 survey

100%

Faculty reported librarians
definitely impacted student success

AY25 survey

75% one-shot
25% scaffolded
50% embedded

Faculty used librarians in multiple ways

Percentages total >100% because faculty often used more than one modality.
AY25 survey

6+

Some faculty invited librarians
more than 6 times per semester

AY25 survey

Bottom line: whether one-time, embedded, or ongoing, librarians consistently make a strong impact on teaching and learning.

Faculty Benefit: Smarter Assignments

Assignment Review

Send your prompt (drafts welcome). We’ll suggest right-sized IL outcomes and quick assessments, flag common stumbling blocks, and recommend targeted resources. We can also provide plug-and-play materials (checklists, worksheets, short videos, Canvas pages).