DEVELOPING INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS AND PROGRAMMES

The University of the West Indies Department of Library and Information Studies and the University Library, Mona in collaboration with UNESCO’s Information for All Programme (IFAP) hosted a 3 day workshop (30 May to 1 June) aimed at introducing librarians from the Caribbean region to techniques for developing information literacy skills and programmes.

This workshop was a regional component of the UNESCO Information Literacy Training the Trainers (TTT) Workshop Series, which includes twelve geographic regions. The Workshop Series has as its overall goal “the training of a cadre of promising and qualified Information Literacy trainers in each of the major geographic regions so that they, in turn can educate other trainers in their respective regions and also begin educating directly the various ultimate beneficiary groups.” http://www.albertkb.nl/pageID_5366125.html 

There were 25 participants - library professionals from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA. They represented public library networks, school libraries, teachers colleges, university libraries, special libraries and other institutions such as the Jamaican Ministry of Education and the Office of the Utility Regulation.  The participants received training on topics including an introduction to the concepts of information literacy, conceptualizing information needs, evaluation of information sources and experiences in the development of information literacy programmes, and the development of action plans for introducing information literacy programmes in their organizations.

The training sessions were delivered by Professor Fay Durrant, and Dr Cherrell Shelley Robinson of the UWI Dept of Library and Information Studies, Mrs Norma Amenu Kpodo, Mrs Verna George and Mrs Karlene Robinson of the UWI Main Library, Mona, Professor Forest Woody Horton, Project Leader, Mrs Barbie Keiser, Information Consultant and Mrs Vanessa Middleton of the American University, United Arab Emirates.

 The well appointed Teleconferencing Room of the UWI Open Campus for Western Jamaica facilitated Internet access for the demonstration of various online tools and social networking sites.  
A key output of the Workshop was the action plans developed by working groups and individuals, to implement Information Literacy Programmes in their organizations.  Participants identified the scope and content of their programmes in relation to the needs of the members of their organizations, the relevant standards and models, partnership with specialist organizations, expected outcomes, and evaluation of impact.

Mr. Isidro Fernandez-Aballi, UNESCO’s Adviser of Communication and Information for the Caribbean, remarked on the high quality of the action plans presented by the participants and talked about the UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office experiences in establishing Information Literacy Clubs.

Prizes for the best presentations were awarded to, Jessica Lewis (Jamaica) and Gemma Lashley (Trinidad and Tobago) and Erica Davis and Cheryl Farquharson (Jamaica)

This workshop was a satellite activity of the XXXVIII Annual ACURIL Conference and  is expected to result in the development of Information Literacy programmes in the participating institutions, and the establishment of  Information Literacy Clubs.
June 14, 2008

Fay Durrant (Prof)

Dept of Library and Information Studies
Phone 876 9272944 
Fax 876 9704903
http://www.mona.uwi.edu/dlis/index.htm

The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, JAMAICA