Yocum Information Literacy Topics and Competencies

The Yocum librarian faculty offer instruction to support the information literacy institutional core competency: "A graduate will identify the need for information, then access, collect, analyze, organize, interpret, evaluate, and employ information/data ethically and legally, using a variety of credible sources to support the purposes of a project or assignment."

Some librarian faculty suggestions that may make this instruction more effective:

  • Share the related assignment with the librarian faculty in advance.
  • Consult with the librarian faculty when you design your research assignment.
    Contact Ms. Kim Stahler, Instruction/Reference Librarian, at 610-372-4721 x5057 or kstahler@racc.edu
  • Assess your students' information literacy skills with our Information Literacy Assessment Tool
  • Consider requiring specific formats of information such as books, magazines, journals, or websites to encourage your students to use a variety of sources.
  • Remain engaged with the instruction throughout the session to reinforce the importance of acquiring information literacy competencies.

Check The Yocum Library Instruction Calendar to see which times are available.
Please submit this form at least 7 days in advance so we have sufficient time to include you in the instruction schedule.

Information Literacy Topics & Competencies

Instruction Details

Library Essentials
  • Identify the physical location of The Yocum Library.
  • Describe how to access the Yocum Library website.
  • Describe basic facts about The Yocum Library including schedule and contact information.
  • Identify a Yocum Librarian for future research assistance.
  • For any credit or non-credit course
  • 15-minute length
  • Held in classroom

Introduction to The Yocum Library
  • Obtain a RACC library card.
  • Locate various library materials.
  • Describe various library services.
  • For any class
  • 30-minute length
  • Held in the library or classroom

Library Research Essentials
  • Describe Yocum Library staff help.
  • Locate catalog on the library website to find books and films.
  • Locate databases, ebooks, and streaming media on library website and on the RACC portal.
  • Locate “Useful Internet Links” on the library website.
  • For any class
  • 45-minute length
  • Held in the library or classroom

Finding Books in the Library
  • Use the library catalog to identify appropriate book titles.
  • Identify E-book resources in The Yocum Library.
  • Locate books in the library using the Library of Congress classification system.
  • Check out and return books at the Service Desk.
  • For any reading course, COM 051 or 100-level writing course, and COM 151 Speech course
  • 45-minute length
  • Held in the library or classroom

Finding & Evaluating Internet Sources
  • Use effective search strategies to identify websites.
  • Identify features of a quality website: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
  • For COM 051 or any 100-level writing course and COM 151 Speech course
  • 45-minute length
  • Held in the library or classroom

Using ProQuest Databases
  • Access ProQuest databases on-site and remotely.
  • Use basic keywords and synonyms for topic searching.
  • Identify formats of periodical sources.
  • Select and access appropriate full-text sources.
  • Identify citation resources.
  • For COM 051 or any 100-level writing course and COM 151 Speech course
  • 45-minute length
  • Held in the library or classroom

Finding Literature Resources
  • Locate print-based literature resources in the library.
  • Locate database literature resources in the library.
  • Select and access appropriate full-text sources.
  • Identify citation resources.
  • For any literature course
  • 45-minute length
  • Held in the library or classroom

For  other 100-level or 200-level courses contact Ms. Kim Stahler,
Instruction/Reference Librarian, at 610-372-4721 x5057 or kstahler@racc.edu