Divide and Conquer: A Not-So-Common Approach to Develop Information Literacy Programs

摘要

In 2012, the Research and Instruction (RIS) Department at Northern Kentucky University’s W. Frank Steely Library divided responsibilities into two areas: research assistance and instruction. ??The department’s reorganization enabled instruction librarians to focus solely on growing the information literacy program.? In light of their success and the evolving role of information literacy in higher education, the authors sought to find out how many “RIS” departments in academic libraries were organized as two separate departments.? Results from a survey suggest the majority of libraries continue to organize under a traditional model, grouping reference and instructional work together.? This article highlights findings from the study and shares the experiences of splitting an RIS department, including what was gained and lost as a result of the new organizational structure.