College to Career: An Exploratory Study to See How Librarians Can Better Prepare Students in STEM and Health Professions

Abstract

Students enter the workplace with a high level of confidence in their technology skills, but that does not equate with proficiency in information literacy. Twenty-first-century professional requirements vary, but employers look for common traits that include discriminating between false and truthful information, finding information online that draws accurate conclusions, and thinking critically about information to solve a problem. This article presents why it is necessary to revisit how academic librarians teach information literacy skills, knowledge, and information-seeking behaviors that can transfer to the workplace. Findings from STEM and Health sciences faculty highlight what librarians should teach students to help them prepare for their future beyond the boundaries of the academic library and the university.

Keywords:

• Information literacy
• workplace
• STEM
• health sciences
• higher education