Iowa's strong reputation is based on its success in integrating library instruction in the university's curriculum through a variety of innovative methods. For example, Library Explorer , a web-based library instruction program is used by Rhetoric faculty to provide the basics of library use and search strategies for new students. For example, during the fall semester 1999 over 64 faculty are partnered with 16 librarians in 83 courses to develop new web-based methods of instruction and information delivery. A major factor in the development of the Science Information Literacy initiative was the interest and subsequent funding of the project by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Senior library staff developed a prospectus and presentation for Carver and were then encouraged to submit a formal grant proposal.
Funding supports a coordinator, an instructional designer, and two graduate assistants.
Scaling Information Literacy Both the UIII and the Science Information Literacy Initiative are based on the University of Iowa Libraries' philosophy that integrated curriculum-based user education in the most effective and scaleable approach for developing students' portfolio of information literacy skills. The University of Iowa's student population is large consisting of about 20,000 undergraduates and 8,000 graduate students. Currently the Libraries reach only about half of the undergraduates through some type of user education program and only in a scattered way. An important outgrowth of the information literacy programs will be development of alternative methods for faculty to incorporate into their courses for each component including web-based methods, in class presentations, use of existing library web tutorials, and other means since librarians are not numerous enough to appear in every introductory class at a university of Iowa's size. Student Learning Objectives Development of relevant student learning objectives in partnership with faculty is an essential part of the Science Information Literacy Initiative.