Practical PIL

How is PIL's research applied in the trenches by librarians and educators? Practical PIL features examples of outreach projects from different campuses that have drawn on PIL research. If you have an example of applying PIL research you would like us to consider, drop us a line and share what you have done.

Research Toolkits

Beginning Your Research at Colgate University
Colgate University (NY)

A what-matters-most site for undergraduates needing to conduct scholarly research at Colgate University. The site provides just enough guidance for getting started and defining and narrowing down a topic--the research step PIL has found stumps students most often.

Temple Top 10
Temple University (PA)

A condensed list of what matters most about the scholarly research process, based on what PIL has learned about student's strategies, needs, and frustrations. Also, includes a research evaluation rubric used at Temple.

Tools of the Trade: A Library Starter Kit for Harvard Freshman
Harvard College Library (MA)

A hands-on Web-based toolkit for learning the ropes of the Harvard University library system (and its 70-plus libraries). Designed to demonstrate the necessity of contextualizing the research process, by showing how layers of available information may be peeled back as a process and as a mode of inquiry in the academic environment. The PIL studies were an important driver for informing how the Harvard library system presented themselves, their collections, the activity and ultimately, the value of undertaking research.

Working with Faculty

Faculty Workshop on Research Assignment Handouts
Phoenix College, Maricopa Community College District (AZ)

A half-day workshop for faculty of all disciplines created by librarians in the Maricopa Community College District. The workshop focuses on how to create more effective handouts for course-related research assignments. Includes checklist for evaluating sample handouts, and LibGuides for finding the best research sources.

The InfoLit Toolkit: Engaging Faculty and a Larger Community
The Ohio State University (OH)

A convenient starting place for faculty and staff to find and share resources and pointers about how to search, use, and create information. Inspired by PIL findings, the toolkit adopts a "train the trainer" approach. The site addresses the information needs in teaching, advising, and research, enlists faculty, staff and graduate students. The goal is to cultivate critical thinking, while encouraging everyone to contribute to the discussion through posts. Librarians are stewards, who vet the content for quality and continuous engagement.

Briefings

"Bridging the Information Literacy Communication Gap: Putting PIL Studies to Good Use."
Library Issues, November 2011 (authored by Stephen Bell) PDF, 4 pages, 279KB

How do you synthesize findings from four PIL studies, which come to almost 200 pages of reading? A four-page briefing for high-level administrators and deans that sums up key takeaways from PIL's ongoing research. Includes a discussion of the WIIFM factor ("What's In It for Me?") and how PIL's research may best be applied. (Reprinted and with permission from Mountainside Publishing Company, Library Issues.)