Pop Culture and Information Literacy Teaching: Considerations from and for Irish Academic Librarians

Authors

Botelho da Silva, Francisca Isabel

Issue Date

2023

Degree

Information & Library Management

Publisher

Dublin Business School

Rights

Items in eSource are protected by copyright. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/copyright holder.

Abstract

In the current information landscape, promoting Information Literacy (IL) skills is of the utmost importance, especially within academic settings where searching and evaluating information are integral to student success. Academic librarians play a vital role in transmitting these skills to students, as they employ diverse engagement methods to increase student’s confidence and engagement. By conducting interviews with academic librarians in Ireland who have had experience with IL teaching, this research aimed to discuss one particular educational tool, popular culture, so as to address a geographical and contextual gap found in the literature. The findings suggest that despite potential limitations and the many factors that dictate its success, popular culture has been found to be quite beneficial by Irish academic librarians, mostly due to its accessibility and ability to showcase the transferable nature of IL skills to students, making it a valuable method for those looking to create engaging teaching moments.