If you missed the first two installments of our Peep Team’s Information Literacy research work you can check them out here:

•  Part One: School Library
• Part Two: Academic Library

This week the Peep Team is really getting the hang of their Information Literacy work; but of course their skills constantly need to be used or they will not be strong.

This week they need to look up some information about starting a garden, and they thought they would find the best resources for their needs at the public library. They started at the Great River Regional Library System’s St. Cloud library.

 

Fortunately, the library was ready for this kind of important research, and they had a nice display up! The Peep Team knows that finding good material is easier when the library has a curated display already set up for them.

 

 

 

 

Well, this is really pretty – a very nice display! But the Peep Team is getting distracted from their mission! Get back to work, Team!

Step One: Identify Information Needs

 

Lucinda and Dan grabbed a book off the shelf. They thought it would be just what they needed for their report, but just a quick glance through it seemed to show that there was a lot more to gardening that they needed to know.

 

 

 

The Peep Team knew they wanted information on setting up a garden. They did not know much more than this. After they browsed the display of books, and other nice items, they found a flyer about an upcoming class where they could talk to a Master Gardner. This would a good idea, but they want to get more information today. So they need to take other steps.

The team assembled at the Reference Desk – knowing that asking questions of the library staff is usually the best way to narrow down their questions and to find the information they need.

Step Two: Locate and Retrieve Appropriate Sources of Information

Knowing the difficulties of going to find books they needed, Ariel The Librarian escorted them to the shelves to help them identify the best books that would meet their needs.

Having a library staff member along with you to help find books is so helpful. Locating books can be a challenge, so it’s handy to have someone who is experienced and knows where everything is located. And she was helpful about providing some suggestions on areas of gardening they had not considered when they were searching the catalog.

They got up close with some books, and spent some time discussing how different titles might meet their information needs. When starting with a pretty broad topic like “starting a garden” the Peep Team knows it is important to narrow down to a more workable thesis. They are discussing and collecting information to help them make those decisions. Some books can be easily eliminated. They are Minnesota Peeps, so they know they are unlikely to need books on tropical plans. And they know they will not be using greenhouses to garden (this time). So they pull out piles of books to look at more closely.

Step Three: Evaluate Information and Its Sources Critically

They found some potentially useful material and took it off the shelf to review.  As is true in any good library, this one has a lot of comfortable seating, and several places for people to gather to review materials, do some reading, and talk quietly with their fellow information seekers. They spent some time reviewing different books, and narrowing their topic.

 

Oh no, Peeps! They got tired doing all that work, and climbed under the blanket they brought in case it got cold in the library, and they took naps!! Peeps – this is not going to get your work done! Librarian Ariel is not pleased. They are jumping right back up from the naps, ready to start reading more books about gardening and to  make some good decisions about the materials they will need to produce a good final report.

 

Whew! Okay, they are back at work now, and they seem to have found some good books to read.

 

 

 

Step Four: Synthesize the information retrieved

They have found a variety of good resources here, and are taking notes on different ways to use it in their final presentation.

 

As they assemble the final information, they realize they have not included resources that would be appropriate for a younger audience. So they headed down to the Children’s Department to find some books they can recommend to people of all ages who may attend their presentation on gardening.

Step Five: Present newly acquired knowledge
so others can use it

They wanted to learn about some good presentation skills, so they went to the library’s Bookworm Bait Shop. While this is a static display, they gathered some ideas about strategies for presenting all kinds of information in a way that is interesting to an audience.

 

Of course the Peep Team is interested in Early Literacy! And again, this gave them some ideas on ways to present their ideas on gardening. Could they make handouts? Would a calendar, with dates for planting different items, be helpful for their audience?

Step Six: Translate these abilities and concepts to new
projects and disciplines

The Peep Team knows they want to be able to take the Information Literacy lessons they learned from this work, and to use them in other areas. Of course they are big fans of dogs in libraries. Could they work on learning more about dogs and literacy? Could they interview CMLE’s Official Office Dog, Lady Grey for her insights into the benefits dogs can bring to library work, and her important role in the workplace? There are a lot of interesting directions they could go with this, and lot of Information Literacy possibilities.

Oh no, Peeps! We want  you to take the message of Information Literacy to other groups – but this is not the right way to talk with Poppy!! An important part of good Info Literacy is remembering to read signs. And it’s important to work with new friends in a way that is comfortable for them. Poppy would not enjoy having a Peep Team parachuting down, even when they are there to discuss exciting new books they would all enjoy! (No Peeps or gerbils were damaged in this photograph. However, we strongly discourage anyone from standing on the roof of a gerbil cage! #SafetyFirst)

Over these three exciting projects the Peep Team has completed, you can see all kinds of useful ways Information Literacy skills can be used in libraries! What will they work on next?? Stay tuned to find out!