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Enhancing Information Literacy: Rutgers University's Searchpath Initiative

On June 6, 2005, Rutgers University Libraries showcased the development of Searchpath, an innovative online tutorial aimed at improving information literacy among its diverse user base of 50,000 students and 2,500 faculty members. Adapting a successful model from Western Michigan University, the project focused on rewriting content, creating a robust backend for quizzes, and gathering analytics. Key contributors Jeanne Boyle and Sam McDonald led the efforts to enhance librarian-led sessions and reach underserved students. The initiative emphasizes effective engagement, training, and strategic planning for continuous improvement.

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Enhancing Information Literacy: Rutgers University's Searchpath Initiative

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  1. Searchpath @ Rutgers Roberta Tipton, Rutgers University Libraries Digital Resources and Librarians: Invention and Implementation June 6, 2005

  2. Thanks to Jeanne Boyle and Sam McDonald for their contributions to this presentation.

  3. What We Did • Adapted a tutorial created by Western Michigan University for use by students, faculty, and librarians at Rutgers University • Rewrote content for our catalog, index, approaches • Created backend for handling quizzes and gathering statistics

  4. 2,500 faculty 50,000 students Located across New Jersey at three main campuses Growing number of off-campus and distance education students 87 librarians 17,000 students taught in nearly 1,000 library instruction sessions Rutgers Context

  5. Previous Experience with Systemwide Tutorials • eCollege tutorial • Single person • eCollege technical support • KnowledgeMaze • Committee effort • Never became interactive

  6. Our Goals • Address information literacy competencies • Serve students at all appropriate levels • Increase effectiveness of librarian-led sessions • Expand reach to students we currently do not serve

  7. The Players

  8. Jeanne BoyleAssociate University Librarian • Administration liaison/Champion • Administrative support • License • Image permissions

  9. Instructional Services Committee • Instruction coordinators from every unit of Rutgers • Content • Assessment plan • Implementation

  10. Sam McDonald, Webmaster • Feasibility studies • Workspace • Scheduling • Coding • Programming

  11. Harry Glazer, Communications • Marketing plan • Low-cost alternatives

  12. Marilyn Wilt, Training • Will implement training for library staff

  13. Administrative Planning Process • Strategic Plan for RUL • Cabinet Strategy for Information Literacy • A Learning Framework for Information Literacy and Library Instruction Programs at Rutgers University Libraries • Information Literacy Initiative PlanningSpring Semester, 2004 • Faculty Advisory Group • Symposium

  14. The “Make or Buy” Decision • Time • Cost • Chose TILT as adapted by Western Michigan University • Ended up “making” AND “buying”

  15. Developed 2000-2001 Based on TILT Open publication license Adopted by a growing number of libraries Zip file downloaded by Rutgers dated March 2003 800 files, 8 megabytes Old HTML No backend Searchpath @ Western Michigan

  16. Technical Changes • Pages re-coded to use style sheets • Some tables retained • Extraneous HTML discarded • Flash to rebuild "Information Overload" and "Thinkfast game"

  17. Technical Changes • Backend created with PHP and MySQL to enable • Page counting • Records of quizzes • JavaScript for quiz validation • Server-side includes for easy management, updating • Future extendibility • Email quiz results

  18. Technical Issues and Challenges • Requirements • Apache, PHP, MySQL installation, with mail host • PHP programmer • Database designer • Flash editor and software • XHTML, CSS, JavaScript skills • Converting quizzes from JavaScript to PHP

  19. Marketing • Signature file • Better Research, Better Papers, Better Grades! Try Searchpath, our new online information literacy tutorial. • Website news and placement • Email to library personnel • Ads in student newspapers • Pens • Notepads for department chairs • Articles in Targum and Focus • Word of mouth

  20. What We Have Learned • Support from the top is essential • Project management is key • Open source is barely and rarely good enough • Need to sell the product • It’s a never ending story

  21. Next Steps • iLink—New catalog version • Assessment • Market for fall • Reports • Generate graphs for visually displaying usage • Export for analysis with SPSS • NetID login vs.guests

  22. Searchpath @ Rutgers Better Research, Better Papers, Better Grades!

  23. Questions? • Roberta Tipton • tipton@andromeda.rutgers.edu

  24. Resources • Searchpath • http://searchpath.libraries.rutgers.edu/ • A Bridge to the Future • http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/about/long_range_plan.shtml • Strategy for Information Literacy • http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/staff/groups/instructional_services/reports/info_lit_strategy.shtml

  25. A Learning Framework for Information Literacy and Library Instruction Programs at Rutgers University Libraries http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/staff/groups/instructional_services/reports/learning_frameworks.shtml Information Literacy Initiative PlanningSpring Semester, 2004 http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/staff/groups/instructional_services/reports/infolit-init-planning-sp04.shtml Resources

  26. Resources • Fowler, C.S. and Dupuis, E.A. What have we done? TILT’s impact on our instruction program. Reference Services Review, November 2000, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 343-349

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