The task of inculcating the skills necessary to turn information into knowledge is borne by Library staff as well as by faculty. Not only is the world of information changing rapidly, many of the Library's users are changing as well. The purposes to which they put information change as new and interdisciplinary fields emerge. And, the classroom is undergoing change as developments in instructional technology make it possible to incorporate a wide range of electronic resources in teaching and learning settings. The Library, with its role in equipping classrooms, is well positioned to assist faculty in incorporating technology into their teaching.
All staff are educators.
We must teach students how to access information resources, refine their research skills, and use critical thinking to interpret and evaluate sources. As information professionals, we must take an active role in seeing that Brown students develop information literacy skills that will permit them to be lifelong learners and critical thinkers. We must reach out to new users to offer guidance on navigating the complexities of a research library, and help in cultivating the research skills and intelligent selectivity necessary to succeed in the virtual library. We must be ready to assist faculty in harnessing the expanding information universe for the purpose of furthering learning and scholarship. We must strive to make a human connection with our users so that each member of the Brown community is connected to a 'personal librarian' or 'library guide'.