Information Literacy: Experiences of the Finnish University Libraries

1. Information Literacy: Experiences of the Finnish University Libraries Kaisa Sinikara, Director of Information and Library Services University of Helsinki, Finland Kaisa.Sinikara@helsinki.fi The UK 17.-19.2007

2. Content • Some facts and figures – • Finnish university libraries´network • University of Helsinki • Information Literacy & Finnish academic libraries • Information Literacy as a part of strategies • Integration into the Bologna process • Collaboration is essential • Assessing IL skills • Promoting IL • Conclusion

3. University Libraries’ network in Finland • Active collaboration (21 university libraries) • National services provided by the National Library • Linnea2 Consortium (Voyager – the library system) • FinELib Consortium (Nat. Electr. Library), Metalib/Ex Libris portal and SFX

4. The Council for Finnish University Libraries • Strategy 2003-2007 • Strategy 2007-2012 • Vision : Finnish university libraries – the heart of the infrastructure of high-level research and teaching. • http://www.nationallibrary.fi/libraries/council.html • Main projects • Competence map (to 2010) • Collection mapping • Information Literacy – joint development • A Study on Financing Structures and Practices • Quality and Impact assessment

5. Basic facts : University of Helsinki • Established in Turku in 1640 • Transferred to Helsinki in 1828 • Degree students 38 000 • Teachers,researchers 3 700 • Other staff 3 800 • Degrees 2005 4 300 • doctorates 400

6. Libraries on four campuses HU ViikkiCampus Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Faculty of Biosciences,Faculty of Pharmacy,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine students 6 400, staff 2 500 Viikki Science Library Meilahti Campus Faculty of Medicine students 2 300 staff 1 500 HUCH 10 000 National Library of Health Sciences City Centra Campus Faculty of Theology,Faculty of Law,Faculty of Arts,Faculty of Behavioural Sciences,Faculty of Social Sciences students 22 000, staff 3 000 National LibraryUndergraduate Libraryfive faculty libraries Kumpula Campus Faculty of Science students 7 000, staff 1 000 Kumpula Science Library

7. Information Literacy & Finnish academic libraries • A long tradition of library instruction but varied ways • Past 10 years • Learner-centred & problem-based learning model • E-library increasing fast • New demands on the libraries

8. Curriculum Plan for Information Literacy: a Joint Virtual University Project of the Finnish University Libraries 2004-2006 • The project coordinator: the University of Helsinki • http://www.helsinki.fi/infolukutaito/english/index.htm • The aim of libraries: • to inform decision makers at all levels and • to integrate IL into academic studies and • to test the implementation of IL with different projects • A framework: Information Literacy Compentency Standards / ALA 2000 • Learner-centredpoint-of-view; What kind of skills the students need?

9. IL as a part of the strategies: the national level • The Ministry of Education; the Dev. Plan for Education and Research 2003-2008 • Libraries contributing the development of teaching and study methods and for their part to ensure that graduates have good information literacy • A strategy of the Council of Finnish University Libraries 2003 – 2006 (new: 2007-2012) • Right timing and good marketing needed • A shared vision important • Strategies at the University level incl. IL

10. Integration into the Bologna process • New degrees at the Finnish universities 1.8.2005- • Recommendation for universities for including IL compentency in the new degree structures • drawn up by the steering group of the national IL project and • shared with the coordinators of the Bologna process in the universities in June 2004 • A survey 2005 – libraries reported usefulness of the recommendation • The joint website has given visibility at the national and international level

12. Collaboration is essential (1) • Libraries´ networks on the national level • A network of specialists • Seminars and conferences • The website • Collaboration on the university level • Faculties and teachers, IT department & libraries teaching the students • The teachers´ IL education

13. Collaboration is essential (2) • International networks and collaboration • NordINFOLIT: http://www.nordinfolit.org/ • Steering group: all Scandinavian countries • Summerschool • Seminars • Creating Knowledge • EnIL • IFLA IL section (Eva Tolonen from Finland) • Collaboration with Croatia, Slovenia • Contacts with The US, Australia etc.

14. Assessing IL skills • Assessing the quality of all academic skills (background) • The national IL project has launched a joint question bank • Questions are divided into four categories • Defining the topic • Selecting information topics • Information retrieval: planning and executing information searches • Evaluating and using information (sources) • Questions are divided also into three levels • New students – Basics in IL • BA level – IL in intermediate level studies • MA level – IL in advanced level studies • Creative Commons Attribution

15. Assessing IL skills (2) • The test can be used for the measurement of the baseline level in order to direct students most proper teaching groups • Feedback important • Updating • Responsibility to update the question bank shared by the IL specialists and Tritonia Library in Vaasa • Responsibility to update the software: the Finnish Virtual University

16. How to promote IL? • Libraries should play an active role • Good collaboration with the teachers and administration and IT departments • Key persons and leaders of the universities • The Ministry responsible for education and research • The Parliament members • European university and library networks and organisations

17. Thank you for your attention! Kaisa Sinikara kaisa.sinikara@helsinki.fi University of Helsinki Finland IL-website http//www.helsinki.fi/infolukutaito UH Libraries: http//www.helsinki.fi/kirjastot/eng