MANAGING TECHNOLOGY The Impact of Technology on Information Literacy Education in Libraries.

Educational technology; Library automation; Management information systems; Information resources management; Library science

This article examines the impact of technology on information literacy education in libraries. As with any resource, technology becomes valuable when it is used appropriately and effectively. New technologies create opportunities for learners but they must be approached critically and used correctly. Librarians must be part of the process to inform and empower learning with technology that enables students to access and interact effectively with information in its many forms and formats--real and virtual--and use it responsibly and purposefully. For many students who have not been formally exposed to print or electronic subscription databases, the Internet is their primary gateway to information which they typically access through the World Wide Web. But many of these students do not understand the basic tenets of research, nor do they know which are the most appropriate resources or that they may or may not be in electronic format. With the expansion of the world of information into cyberspace, the role of the library instructor must grow to incorporate the appropriate concepts and skills. To reinforce the role of technology as an educational resource, it is important for students to be exposed to new technologies in the classroom. By using new technologies in their instructional sessions, librarians are modeling their use for students and at the same time can be innovative and creative in their presentations and enhance the learning experience. In order to teach with technology, librarians must be willing to change how and what they teach, and of course they must learn to effectively employ the technology itself. Continuing a long tradition, librarians will continue to adapt to new technologies and integrate them into instruction, recognizing that technology concepts and skills are critical to educating information literate students--a role that has always been the purview of the librarian.