A UM student seated at a study desk between library bookshelves in the Mansfield Library on the University of Montana campus in Missoula, MT, using a laptop with a coffee cup nearby.

Mansfield Library

About Our Curriculum

Mansfield Library's information literacy curriculum is based on the Association of College & Research Libraries' Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (ACRL Framework).

Our library faculty focus on reaching students in the following ways:

  • instruction in first-year experience courses
  • instruction in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) courses
  • instruction in Writing in the Disciplines (WID) courses
  • instruction in research-focused graduate courses and graduate student orientations
  • workshops
  • credit classes taught by library faculty
  • individual research assistance and consultations

At every opportunity, librarians seek to facilitate the successful delivery of information literacy content by teaching faculty in the disciplines. Librarians may provide consultative services to teaching faculty to develop research assignments; promote the use of tutorials and other learning materials; and encourage student engagement at the Reference Desk and research consultations.

Areas of Focus

  • The strategic integration of information literacy into the curriculum begins with first-year initiatives that serve as the basis for information literacy instruction in the disciplines at the WAC and WID levels. The first-year curriculum integration is designed to reach students in courses that are a part of the standard university curriculum, particularly Introductory College Writing, and in required courses with a large enrollment.

    Targeted First-year Courses: College Writing I, College Writing I Plus, Introduction to Public Speaking, Introduction to Honors.

  • Ready-to-use information literacy lessons are available to instructors in Canvas Commons (found as "Library Instruction for WAC Courses") and can be customized and integrated into course shells in Canvas. The lessons include a variety of content and activities to reinforce required outcomes for WAC courses. This information literacy integration builds on the Introductory College Writing integration at the first-year level.

  • The integration of information literacy continues to address the university Writing Course Guidelines in WID courses. Librarians collaborate with faculty to integrate required information literacy learning outcomes into their courses. Librarians may provide instruction, learning materials or online resources, or partner with faculty to design research activities or assignments.

  • Instruction is provided in graduate courses and graduate student orientations, per faculty or program request, as well as in workshops.

  • Workshops address specific student research needs, such as navigating copyright, finding government information, managing references, and conducting a literature review, are offered periodically.

    • LSCI 210Y Who Owns Culture? An Introduction to Copyright
    • ENST 201 Environmental Information Resources
    • Special topics courses, independent study, and internships are periodically offered.

Online Instructional Content

A selection of information literacy lessons are available in Canvas Commons and can be imported into course shells. Current selection includes:

Library Instruction for Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Courses

Ready-to-use lessons supporting required information literacy outcomes for WAC courses. The content currently includes 5 lessons (Information Positionality, Choosing & Framing a Research Topic, Searching in Databases, Using Sources in Your Writing, and Citing Sources & Citation Managers) along with supplementary content for instructors.

Citation Style Tutorials

Short overviews and quizzes for Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) citation styles. 

Library Instruction for WRIT 101/WRIT 101 Plus at Missoula College

Created in collaboration with Missoula College instructors, these modules support the outcomes and curriculum for online sections of WRIT 101 and WRIT 101 Plus at Missoula College. 

How to access online tutorials

These tutorials are available in Canvas Commons. Follow these steps to access them:

  1. Log into Canvas
  2. Select "Commons" from the main menu
  3. Search for the content you are looking for
  4. Follow this guide to download and import the content to your course

If you have questions about this content, please contact Karli Cotton, Online Learning Librarian.

Revision History

  • Mended May 2023 by Reference and Instruction team
  • Revised January 2020
  • Updated February 2015 by: Samantha Hines, Karen Jaskar, Sue Samson, and Megan Stark
  • Prepared and updated in August 2009 by Library Instruction Curriculum Task Force and Library Instruction Coordinator: Julie Edwards, Samantha Hines, Tammy Ravas, Sue Samson, and Kate Zoellner
  • October 2008