About Skills at Library resources & training
Skills at Library is divided into 7 sections that will take you through the basics of using the Library and on to more advanced information literacy skills. We hope you will be able to use Skills at Library resources however works best for you. The below suggestions and framework have been provided to help guide your learning as you build on existing skills and identify knowledge gaps. To get the most out of Skills at Library training, we recommend completing the 'Information Skills' course on Moodle alongside our workshops.
Tips for undergraduates
We recommend completing each lesson in order (starting with '1. Intro to the Library'). This will help you develop foundational information skills for university study, and build more advanced competencies. It's never too early to complete this training. Ideally you should be working at advanced level information skills before starting any major assignments or your dissertation.
Tips for postgraduates
If you are a returning or post graduate student, you can quickly refresh your knowledge by referring to the 'Quick takeaways' sections of each lesson. Feel free to skip sections that you feel confident in and focus on the areas you need to develop. You should be confident in advanced level information literacy skills at the start of your course.
Skills at Library levels
Remember, the three levels of Skills at Library training should be used as a guide to help you build on existing skills. The levels will translate differently depending on your year of study and research needs. It's a good idea to revisit this training as you progress through your course to ensure your information skills are at the level they should be.
Beginner information skills are expected to be developed by someone new to, or returning to university. Sections labelled as 'beginner' introduce Library resources and platforms that are necessary for study. These sections cover the basic skills required to use the Library and access course-related information.
Intermediate skills build directly on the concepts introduced at the beginner level. At this level, you should be able to make your own decisions about your information needs and how you will meet them.
Advanced skills involve interpreting information, data, and content to form your own ideas. At this level, you should be able to confidently reference reliable sources of information to support your arguments. These skills should be developed before the end of a final year undergraduate or taught postgraduate programme.
6. Referencing
7. Sharing information inclusively
Information literacy framework
Skills at Library is based on the SCONUL 7 Pillars for Information Literacy model that defines information literate individuals as those who can:
We have adapted this framework to meet the needs of students and researchers at Essex.
| Skills at Library section | SCONAL Pillar |
|---|---|
| 1. Intro to the Library | Identify, Scope |
| 2. Managing information | Identify, Manage, Plan |
| 3. Search techniques | Plan, Gather |
| 4. Unlocking information | Scope, Gather |
| 5. Using sources | Evaluate |
| 6. Referencing | Manage |
| 7. Sharing your work | Present |
Except where otherwise noted, this work by University of Essex Library and Cultural Services is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
