Exploring Science Information Literacy Instruction at French and Spanish Libraries

Abstract

Visits to university libraries in France and Spain offered an initial look at science information literacy practices in Europe. The study provides an overview of the information literacy programs at these libraries, discusses some of the similarities and differences in library instruction for sciences disciplines in these countries, makes comparisons to practices in North American academic libraries, and offers possible ideas that could be implemented in our own programs.

KEYWORDS:

• chemistry
• Europe
• information literacy
• international collaboration
• sabbatical
• science

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is grateful to the librarians, faculty, and staff from these universities for their patience, time, and effort that made this informational visit a positive experience.

At the Universidad de Sevilla: librarians Inmaculada Muñoz Martínez, Pilar Aurora Ruiz Martínez, Mercedes Aguilar Gómez, Marisa Balsa Anaya, Miriam Moscoso Castillo, Lourdes Muñoz de Arenillas Valdés, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Santos, Victoria Santos Flores, Rafael Valenzuela Ruiz, and professors José Luis Martínez (engineering) and Juan Luis Pérez Bernal (chemistry).

At the Sorbonne Université Pierre et Marie Curie: librarians Nathalie Charrier-Arrighi, Magali Le Coent, Elsa Courbin, Frédérique Flamerie, Marie Germain, Gilles Morinière, Philippe Paret, Claire Sonnefraud, and professor Marine Desage-El Murr (chemistry).

At the Bibliothèque Universitaire de l’université Paris Diderot: librarian Carole Daffini.

At the Bibliothèque Universitaire de l’université Paris-Sud (Orsay): librarians Carole Dufau and François Leger.