Information Literacy Expertise

The Cowles Library Faculty are the campus experts on information literacy, which focuses on searching, finding, & evaluating information in all its forms. It is the bedrock of librarianship and informs all of the work that we do, from teaching to collecting and maintaining information resources at the University.

We teach information literacy skills that help students learn how to navigate resources, focus their research questions, and use different search strategies to find the best results. We educate students on how to determine what are quality, authoritative, and credible sources in their fields. We teach a variety of LIBR credit-bearing courses as well as First Year Seminar and John Dee Bright College courses.

We also teach sessions in other courses and are embedded in courses and programs to assist students with short and long-term research skills. The skills students learn in our courses and sessions prepare them to be responsible global citizens who navigate the social and ethical implications of the information they use.

Supporting the Drake Curriculum

Cowles Library faculty teach several courses that satisfy Drake University’s Information Literacy Area of Inquiry general education requirement. We also work frequently with other faculty who teach courses that satisfy this AOI.

Cowles Library faculty work closely with the First Year Seminar Program. In addition to offering 2-3 sections of FYS each fall, we aim for each First Year Seminar to have at least one information literacy session with a Cowles Library faculty member.

To request library instruction for any course, please fill out this form or contact your library liaison.

Cowles Faculty Areas of Expertise

• AI and information literacy
• Archives & Special collections
• Copyright
• Data literacy
• Integrating primary sources into courses
• Information literacy in the sciences
• Navigating & evaluating library and internet sources
• Organizing & citing your research
• Open access & scholarly communication