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Information Literacy Toolkit

Information Literacy Toolkit for Faculty

Partnering with the Library to Teach Information Literacy

The Fresno State Library provides a range of services and resources designed to help faculty integrate information literacy into their teaching. From instructional collaborations and customizable class sessions to online learning materials and research tools, the Library partners with faculty to equip students with the skills they need to succeed.

Subject Librarians

Subject librarians collaborate with faculty to integrate information literacy into course content and assignments. They can develop customized research guides, online tutorials, and library activities aligned with specific learning outcomes, and assist in assessing student progress and refining instruction.

Ways to collaborate:

  • Consult your subject librarian to plan library instruction or co-teaching sessions.
  • Add your librarian’s contact information to your course syllabus.
  • Include your librarian in your Canvas course under the Librarian role.

In-class Instruction & Workshops

Librarians collaborate with faculty to design and deliver customized instruction sessions that help students develop essential research and information literacy skills. Sessions can be offered in person or via Zoom and tailored to specific course objectives or assignments. Common topics include search strategies, effective use of databases, evaluating sources, and citation practices.

The Library also offers workshops for students, faculty, and staff on research skills, information tools, and specialized resources. Faculty are encouraged to promote these opportunities to their students.

Tutorials in Canvas

The Library offers self-paced tutorials in Canvas to help students develop key information literacy skills, including finding and evaluating sources, understanding plagiarism, and conducting research as inquiry. Students can self-enroll in the Library Tutorials course and earn badges for completed modules, which can be assigned as part of your course.

Popular tutorial topics include:

  • Scholarly articles & using OneSearch
  • Evaluating sources & credibility
  • Plagiarism & citation practices
  • Research as inquiry & open-minded research
  • Finding surveys and instruments

Faculty can also adapt or embed individual tutorials in their courses through Canvas Commons to align with specific learning objectives.

Library Guides & Resources

The Library provides a variety of guides and resources to support teaching, learning, and the development of students’ information literacy skills. These include:

  • Library Guides – course-specific guides, subject-focused research guides, and how-to guides created by librarians.
  • Library FAQs – answers to frequently asked questions about library services and resources. Many of those tagged "Research" can serve as microlearning resources on information literacy topics.
  • Library Tours – virtual and in-person tours designed to familiarize students with the Library and its offerings.