PROSPECTING FOR MEANING: INQUIRY AND LIBRARY INSTRUCTION IN THE GEOSCIENCES

Information is constantly changing as are the ways to access it. Learners need to develop their own frame of reference for interacting with the information they seek out. Adapting library instruction to meet inquiry based curriculums can be a challenge. It requires geosciences librarians to rethink and retool their library instruction sessions, and to foster an environment of discovery for learners which will lead to a greater understanding of information and research in the geosciences. The framework set out by the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education along with an examination of learner outcomes and the development of new technologies can assist librarians in creating stimulating and experiential library instruction. The University of Calgary Library has been working to incorporate information literacy into an inquiry based curriculum for the last few years. The librarians have developed some innovative models which can be easily adapted for the geosciences. By working with the ACRL standards and collaborating with faculty, librarians can create meaningful library instruction sessions that compliment inquiry based curricula in the geosciences.