Access to knowledge is one of the hallmarks of a liberal arts education. As we move towards an increasingly information-based society, the ability to locate information efficiently and use it effectively has become an essential factor in the ability of our graduates to compete professionally and to pursue lifelong learning. In this document we present evidence that some Oberlin students are not able to make adequate use of either print or electronic sources of information, and we call for some modest curricular changes that would remedy this situation.
Information literacy is important to a liberal education.
For students to be academically successful at Oberlin and also to be effective afterwards in their lives and careers, it is essential that they develop sound skills in using the information resources that are available to the public through a variety of means and media. Being able to identify, select, critically evaluate, and utilize relevant information on a topic is an essential skill for anyone who is liberally educated. A number of factors are making the development of such skills among Oberlin students increasingly difficult. While academic libraries such as Oberlin's are by nature complex, the extraordinary growth of knowledge and in particular the rapid development of electronic information technologies have increased the complexity of the library environment. Electronic databases that as recently as a decade ago were searched only by librarians are now routinely used directly by students and faculty.