Review of Agriculture to Zoology: Information Literacy in the Life Sciences

Abstract

Information Literacy (IL) plays a critical role in the knowledge management and acquisition process of all information users, so much so that the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) of the American Libraries Association and other professional associations such as the Special Libraries Association and the American Chemical Society (ACS) have developed websites and whitepapers on general core competencies. However, few books exist on the subject of information literacy, especially in the life sciences. Therefore, a book on information literacy at this critical era in the academic life of our students is such a welcome relief. This is because in the midst of information overload from the mass of fake or false news that flourishes online comes the added challenge of critical information evaluation. Of the 16 books exclusively on IL available in WorldCat, there is one in the medical and biological sciences and this new addition specifically dealing with the life sciences from “Agriculture to Zoology.” This book is unique in that it is a labor of love by practicing librarians who are experts in their fields, with years of experience in various aspects of IL. The book has seven chapters, each with additional recommended resources alongside the references. Chapter one (Kuden and Braund-Allen) of the University of Alaska, Anchorage, introduces us to the IL concept, evolution, and impact on lifelong learning. It touches on collaboration between faculty and librarians as well as embedded librarianship. Chapter two (Berman of Tufts University and Kuden of University of Alaska, Anchorage) is on scientific literacy and its convergence with IL. Chapter three (O’Clair of California Polytechnic) is on designing IL for life sciences and lays emphasis on much needed background in educational pedagogy (theory, instruction, and assessment), especially for those new to library instruction. The next four chapters are very discipline specific. Chapter four (Olsen, Kansas State University) is on Agriculture and Plant Science; Chapter five (Taylor, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) on Marine and Aquatic Sciences; Chapter six (Campbell and Thorlakson, both from University of Alberta, Canada and BraundAllen, University of Alaska, Anchorage) on Polar (Arctic and Antarctic) Science; and Chapter seven (Carle, University of Alaska, Anchorage) on Zoology and Animal Science. The first three chapters thus set the stage for delving into subject-specific areas. While the chapters can be read in any order, it may have been better to switch Chapters 1 and 2, thus starting broadly with scientific literacy in general and then moving into an introduction to IL in the life sciences to maintain the flow. All the chapters have recommended, discipline-specific resources, in addition to resources on Scientific and Technical Information (STI), both subscription-based and free, open-