A BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION LITERACY COMPETENCIES OF STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

by Sumpter, Jeffery

Information literacy competency involves the ability to understand the need for information and then to successfully find, evaluate, and use it. As information has become more easily accessible and abundant on the Internet, information literacy competencies have become increasing important in academic disciplines. Health-related disciplines, especially public health, have been slower to realize the importance of these competencies.

A pilot project for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) Health Sciences Library, this study uses a survey questionnaire to assess the baseline information literacy competencies of students in UNC’s School of Public Health. The results showed that a majority of graduate students demonstrated a high proficiency in information literacy competencies, but that a significant number of graduate students had important weaknesses in them. The results could be used to inform approaches to information literacy competencies’ instruction and the design of future assessments.