Academic Integrity: Information skills

In the wider context, information skills are important because they help to increase information literacy. 

“Information literacy is the ability to think critically and make balanced judgements about any information we find and use. It empowers us as citizens to reach and express informed views and to engage fully with society.”  (CILIP, 2018)

• Understand the need to use information and define your research topic
• Identify the range of information resources available
• Locate and access information using different library collections
• Use search tools to locate relevant information by applying effective search strategies
• Identify and use subject-specific library databases
• Use information independently and critically
• Locate and evaluate quality information on the web
• Cite information and use it in a responsible and ethical manner

Given the abundance of information in different formats and varying quality, and with the rapid developments in AI, it's crucial for students to have the skills to make the most of available resources, including the ability to assess and use information ethically. It's essential for them to effectively retrieve, evaluate, and use information.

By empowering students to develop these skills, we can support their academic success and help ensure that our NU graduates become independent and successful lifelong learners.

The NU Library offers a range of information skills sessions to every student in each School at the university. Subject librarians work closely with teaching staff to develop, design and deliver information literacy skills programs across each discipline.

Our sessions are not just limited to once-off classes. They can also be project or course-related instructional sessions or even embedded modules. This flexibility allows you to choose the format best suits your learning needs. Research has shown that information literacy skills are most effectively developed within the context of academic programs.