This month’s Resource Highlight blog post was contributed by Kevin Engel, Science Librarian at Grinnell College.
As a relative newcomer to the OER world, I had the initial impression that open textbooks were primarily available for instructors and disciplines outside of the library. Yes, librarians are often a major advocate of the use of OERs on campus, but I was not seeing many OER intended for use by librarians. Luckily, after investigation I found that there are open textbooks that can assist librarians with teaching topics related to information literacy, academic research, resource evaluation, and more!
To highlight a few resources of potential interest to the librarians in our community, here are four works that I have used in my own work:
The Information Literacy User’s Guide: An Open, Online Textbook
Deborah Bernnard, University of Albany, et al.
“The Information Literacy User’s Guide introduces students to critical concepts of information literacy as defined for the information-infused and technology-rich environment in which they find themselves. This book helps students examine their roles as information creators and sharers and enables them to more effectively deploy related skills. This textbook includes relatable case studies and scenarios, many hands-on exercises, and interactive quizzes.”
Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers
Mike Caulfield, Washington State University
Based on an early version of Mike Caulfield’s SIFT process for evaluating information online, Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers is “an unabashedly practical guide for the student fact-checker. It supplements generic information literacy with the specific web-based techniques that can get you closer to the truth on the web more quickly.”
Information Literacy: Research and Collaboration across Disciplines
Edited by Barbara J. D’Angelo, Sandra Jamieson, Barry Maid, and Janice R. Walker
“Taking as a starting point the concerns that prompted the Association of Research Libraries (ACRL) to review the Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education and develop the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (2015), the chapters in Information Literacy consider six frameworks that place students in the role of both consumer and producer of information within today’s collaborative information environments.”
Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research
Cheryl Lowry, Ohio State University
“Choosing & Using Sources presents a process for academic research and writing, from formulating your research question to selecting good information and using it effectively in your research assignments. Additional chapters cover understanding types of sources, searching for information, and avoiding plagiarism. Each chapter includes self-quizzes and activities to reinforce core concepts and help you apply them. There are also appendices for quick reference on search tools, copyright basics, and fair use.”
Are there OER you’ve found that are useful for instruction on topics like these? Share them in the comments below or join our mailing list to discuss your favorites!