Keywords
Information Literacy in the Workplace; Employability; Information Literacy for Engi-neers
Description
Information Literacy (IL) in the Workplace is a relatively new and increasingly important area of research in library science. Many libraries offer IL programmes in order to help students find, ac-cess and use literature for their studies and final papers. But to what extent does instruction in IL help students in their future employment? In international library science, a number of publications already investigate concepts of em-ployability and their relation to information literacy. In Germany, the discussion is just beginning. There is little evidence that German libraries include information literacy for the workplace in their strategic programme development. The University Library of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) offers a comprehensive IL programme for all stages of study, research, and teaching. To develop a better understanding of the differences between IL as part of a university study programme, and information literacy in the workplace, the University Library decided to conduct a survey among engineering graduates who have finished their master’s degree at the TUM and are at an early stage of their profes-sional career. In semi-structured interviews, participants describe their experience with IL in workplace environments and give feedback regarding their academic IL training. Results sup-port a process of reconsideration and adaption of the IL programme with a focus on student em-ployability, as well as on course formats and content to reflect workplace requirements.
Engineering graduates at work: Reality check for information literacy
Information Literacy (IL) in the Workplace is a relatively new and increasingly important area of research in library science. Many libraries offer IL programmes in order to help students find, ac-cess and use literature for their studies and final papers. But to what extent does instruction in IL help students in their future employment? In international library science, a number of publications already investigate concepts of em-ployability and their relation to information literacy. In Germany, the discussion is just beginning. There is little evidence that German libraries include information literacy for the workplace in their strategic programme development. The University Library of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) offers a comprehensive IL programme for all stages of study, research, and teaching. To develop a better understanding of the differences between IL as part of a university study programme, and information literacy in the workplace, the University Library decided to conduct a survey among engineering graduates who have finished their master’s degree at the TUM and are at an early stage of their profes-sional career. In semi-structured interviews, participants describe their experience with IL in workplace environments and give feedback regarding their academic IL training. Results sup-port a process of reconsideration and adaption of the IL programme with a focus on student em-ployability, as well as on course formats and content to reflect workplace requirements.