Scottish Further Education Colleges Service Development and Self-Evaluation Framework

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) launched on 3 December 2009 a new service development and self-evaluation framework for library and information services in Scottish Further Education (FE) colleges, to replace the previously published toolkit Resources and Services to Support Learners

The framework includes a message of thanks to John and I from Charles Sweeney, Chair, SLIC Working Party on FE Libraries

Thanks are also due to Christine Irving and John Crawford of Glasgow Caledonian University’s Scottish Information Literacy Framework project who ably demonstrated to the Working Party the importance of information literacy as a core competence enabling independent learning in a vocational context.

The framework  has been produced in “consultation with colleagues from SFC, HMIe, JISC, the professional library community in colleges across Scotland and external expertise from Strathclyde University on quality library services”.  Included in the introduction are the following key statements

SLIC recognises that college library and information services are key strategic business assets, whose staff have a major contribution to make in supporting flexible, responsive, high quality learning and teaching programmes and in promoting learner engagement.

Together with changes to the strategic and policy context of further education Scotland has recently introduced the biggest education reform for a generation. The Curriculum for Excellence brings the key role of the library into sharp focus in supporting the development of successful learners and confident individuals. The library provides staff and students with the opportunity to exercise their entitlement to access information and develop comprehensive literacies in a supportive environment.

College library services offer:

  • Access to a wide range of information in a range of formats
  • Support for attainment across the college community
  • Support for the development of information literacy
  • Assistance with effective utilisation of ICT in learning and teaching
  • Knowledge and skills in promoting reading for enjoyment
  • Support for personal and social development and citizenship skills
  • The type of flexible learning environment which can encourage independent learning
  • Access to structured information skills programmes to develop critical thinking skills.

As a core curriculum support service, the quality of the library service  reflects the professionalism of the institution as a whole.

Hopefully library services and staff can use the above to support / demonstrated the work they do and their relevance to the college as a whole.

Within the different Elements of the framework Information literacy is specifically mentioned in the following: 

Element 2: Impact on learners and other users of college services 2.1; 2.2

Quality indicator and key prompt

An appropriate range and balance of learning resources and services is offered to support learners and curricular needs

In what ways do service staff work closely with curricular staff to embed and support the delivery of information literacy and research skills?

Suggested evidence sources

  • Information literacy embedded in learning and teaching strategy
  • Examples of integrated information resources in teaching packs
  • Cross-curricular information skills programmes
Element 5: Education, training and lifelong learning 5.1Quality indicator and key prompt

Element 8: Partnership and resources 8.2

The service participates in, and contributes to, programmes and services to meet the needs of all learners

Suggested evidence sources

Information literacy sessions and support

 

Information Literacy in Public Libraries – the lifelong learning agenda

At a recent event at the Mitchel Library, Glasgow I was asked about examples of public libraries offering information literacy courses. Although there is some activity in this area we tend not to hear about it so whilst the following is not taking place in Scotland but Wales (one of our Celtic cousins) I thought it was worth a mention.

At the begining of December 2009  John attended An Information Literacy Framework for Wales event  to share the project’s experience in Scotland. One of the speakers was Gareth Evans, Senior Manager – Libraries, Caerphilly County Borough Council and he has allowed us to share his presentation – Information Literacy – a public view and the accompanying documents:

Gareth’s contact details are EVANSG1@CAERPHILLY.GOV.UK

Sharing practice information literacy case studies (Curriculum for Excellence)

The Scottish Information Literacy Project worked with Learning and Teaching Scotland and Project partners:           

  • North Lanarkshire Council, Education Resource Service
  • Information and Learning Resources, City of Edinburgh Council, Children and Families Department
  • North Ayrshire Education Resources Service

to identify case Studies / exemplars of good practice within the cross curricular area of information literacy for dissemination through the LTS Information Literacy website under sharing practice.

April 2009