IFLA Satellite Conference Library Statistics for the 21st Century World Montreal, Canada August 18, 2009

1. Information Literacy: An InternationalInformation Literacy: An International
State-of-the-Art ReportState-of-the-Art Report
Mexico and Latin AmericaMexico and Latin America
IFLA Satellite ConfereceIFLA Satellite Conferece
Library Statistics for the 21st. Century WorldLibrary Statistics for the 21st. Century World
UIS-IFLA-ISOUIS-IFLA-ISO
Montreal, Canada, August 18-Montreal, Canada, August 18-
Jesús Lau, PhDJesús Lau, PhD
jlau@uv.mxjlau@uv.mx
www.jesuslau.comwww.jesuslau.com
Director, USBI VER Library, and Coordinator, UV VirtualDirector, USBI VER Library, and Coordinator, UV Virtual
LibraryLibrary
Universidad VeracruzanaUniversidad Veracruzana
www.uv.mx/bvirtualwww.uv.mx/bvirtual // www.uv.mx/usbi_verwww.uv.mx/usbi_ver
Boca del Río, Veracruz, MÉXICOBoca del Río, Veracruz, MÉXICO

2. OverviewOverview
Still scattered activityStill scattered activity
Done mostly in higher education institutionsDone mostly in higher education institutions
Most active countries: Argentina, Brasil,Most active countries: Argentina, Brasil,
Chile, Colombia, Rica, MexicoChile, Colombia, Rica, Mexico
Some IL specific conferences are heldSome IL specific conferences are held
Papers often included in general libraryPapers often included in general library
science conferencesscience conferences
About a dozen books publishedAbout a dozen books published

3. Basic IL ConceptsBasic IL Concepts
Linguistic issues: More than a dozen termsLinguistic issues: More than a dozen terms
denoting similar activitiesdenoting similar activities
– Desarrollo de habilidades informativasDesarrollo de habilidades informativas
– Alfabetización Informacional (ALFIN)Alfabetización Informacional (ALFIN)
– User educationUser education
– User instructionUser instruction
– Information competenciesInformation competencies
Resistance to be “alphabetized”Resistance to be “alphabetized”
Desarrollo de HabilidadesDesarrollo de Habilidades
InformativasInformativas

4. IL for daily life: citizens, workers, businessIL for daily life: citizens, workers, business
No reported activity in private sectorNo reported activity in private sector
(often considered “training”)(often considered “training”)
Not much in public libraries eitherNot much in public libraries either
Some ministries have started to showSome ministries have started to show
interest in the topic (e.g. Veracruzinterest in the topic (e.g. Veracruz
Education Department has requested theEducation Department has requested the
publishing of thepublishing of the Information LiteracyInformation Literacy
GuidelinesGuidelines for distribution in local libraries)for distribution in local libraries)

5. Know How MaterialsKnow How Materials
Most widespread IL activity in manyMost widespread IL activity in many
countriescountries
Universities and MinistriesUniversities and Ministries
information literacy relatedinformation literacy related
manuals, flyers and other mediamanuals, flyers and other media

6. Library ToursLibrary Tours
Many college libraries with a goodMany college libraries with a good
technology base have created goodtechnology base have created good
multimedia tours:multimedia tours:
– UACJUACJ
– UVMUVM
– UNAMUNAM
– UCOLUCOL (leading institution in tech goodies)(leading institution in tech goodies)

7. Tutorials on how to use specific informationTutorials on how to use specific information
resourcesresources
Mexican examples:Mexican examples:
– UV: Tutorial on CatalogUV: Tutorial on Catalog
– UACJ: Multimedia program on CatalogUACJ: Multimedia program on Catalog
– ILCE: Videos for user informationILCE: Videos for user information
– INEGI: web-based tutorialsINEGI: web-based tutorials
Assumed to be likewise in mostAssumed to be likewise in most
countriescountries

8. Workshops / Hands OnWorkshops / Hands On
Also well developed in major libraryAlso well developed in major library
organizationsorganizations
Offered to students, faculty and staffOffered to students, faculty and staff
Different options:Different options:
– Optional course or workshopOptional course or workshop
– On request by facultyOn request by faculty
– As part of the curriculaAs part of the curricula
– For graduate students, etc.For graduate students, etc.

9. Credit CoursesCredit Courses
Mexico: leading countryMexico: leading country
As introductory course (ITESM, UACJ)As introductory course (ITESM, UACJ)
As full subject (UDLAP)As full subject (UDLAP)
Clavijero Consortium: IL compulsoryClavijero Consortium: IL compulsory
subject in more than 50 institutionssubject in more than 50 institutions
Universidad Veracruzana, optionalUniversidad Veracruzana, optional
Much work still to be doneMuch work still to be done

10. PublicationsPublications
Mexico created its guidelines in 2002Mexico created its guidelines in 2002
Monographs: Colombia, Brazil, Chile andMonographs: Colombia, Brazil, Chile and
México (nine)México (nine)
Several theses have been done on theSeveral theses have been done on the
subjectsubject
Still no specific associationsStill no specific associations

11. Training the trainersTraining the trainers
No formal studies in LIS schoolsNo formal studies in LIS schools
Some courses facilitated in México,Some courses facilitated in México,
Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala and PeruBrazil, Cuba, Guatemala and Peru

12. ConferencesConferences
Oldest conference in Spanish-
speaking countries: Encuentro DHI,
Chihuahua, México, 1998 -
Valparaiso, Chile: Conference
Chile: Seminar
Costa Rica – Conference, aimed at
creating national policies on IL
Lima, Peru – UNESCO regional
workshop

13. Thank you!Thank you!