Information Literacy for Small Theological Libraries

 

 

Research MethodWriting Research EssaysEvaluating InformationInternet PortalsJournal Databases with TutorialsSearch EnginesInformation Literacy StandardsPapers and Research

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many theological libraries around the world that have collections of modest size. They are unable to access the expensive electronic databases found in larger universities.  Their students, however, are eager to learn how to do research.

This website is devoted to providing resources - instruction, tutorials, portals, and so on - that can enable theological students with limited library resources to do research at a high level. Included are resources for instructors.

If you have materials to contribute, particularly in languages other than English, please contact the webmaster by e-mail: badke@twu.ca.

 

 

1. Research Method    Top

 Textbooks         Tutorials         Courses           Principles
 

          A. Textbooks

Research Strategies (2008): Shorter online free version of the print textbook for students: William Badke, Research Strategies: Finding your Way through the Information Fog.

Handbook for Information Literacy Teaching (PDF - Excellent online textbook for instructors planning to teach information literacy to students.)

 

          B. Tutorials

A Model for Research (Flash Tutorial)

Avoiding Plagiarism (Flash Tutorial; 14 min.); Avoiding Plagiarism (Flash Tutorial; 8 min.); Avoiding Plagiarism (PowerPoint); Preventing and Detecting Plagiarism (PowerPoint and PDF)

TILT (Texas Information Literacy Tutorial)

Five Colleges of Ohio Research Tutorial

UW-Parkside Information Literacy Tutorial

The Information Cycle


          B.
Courses

Syllabus for a one-credit graduate Research Strategies course (PDF document)

Teaching manual for one credit Research Strategies course (PDF document)

One credit online course in Research Strategies

Pitts Theological Library Information Literacy Initiative

Theological Resources Seminar (Brite Divinity School)


             C. Principles


Badke, W. A Rationale for Information Literacy as a Credit-Bearing Discipline (2008)

The Big6™

Bruce, Seven Faces of Information Literacy

The Cycle of Inquiry and Action: Essential Learning Communities

Kuhlthau's Model of the Stages of the Information Process

SCONUL Seven Skills


2. Writing Research Essays Top

Writing Research Essays: A Guide for Students of All Nations

Writing Research Papers (PowerPoint)

Guides to bibliographic style (APA, MLA, Turabian)

 

3. Evaluating Information  Top

Evaluating Internet Research Sources (Robert Harris)

Evaluating Web Content (State University of New York at Albany)

Internet Detective (Interactive tutorial)

 

4. Internet Portals  Top

Wabash Center Guide to Internet Resources for Teaching and Learning In Theology and Religion.  Excellent site with very well chosen links.  You can really benefit from this site, especially when it comes to finding good information that is of high quality.

Internet Theology Resources, by School of Theology Major Areas (St. Johns School of Theology – Seminary).  Catholic emphasis - terrific for church fathers and other theologians of the past, often by theological subject.

Fides Quaerens Internetum (The Christian Theology Page) Site describes itself as a hub for locating serious Christian theological activity on the Internet.”  Denominational theology links, seminaries and theological schools (including library links), chat rooms, publishers, journals and online documents and aids.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library.  Texts of classic Christian books. Login is required to download resources, but it's free to register.  Donations are appreciated. 

Religion-Online.orgCollection of books and scholarly articles on religion, theology and theologians.  Major strength is scholarly articles by well known academics. 

Intute Arts and Humanities: Religion and Theology. Well selected resources on all aspects of religion, including world religions, for use by university students and faculty. 

Virtual Religion Network: The Christian Tradition.  Excellent for historical theology and connections between theology and biblical studies.

 

5. Journal Databases with Tutorials  Top
 

Theological Journals Search     Tutorial
(a search engine for articles within 250+ theological journals freely available on the Internet.)

Index Theologicus                    Tutorial
(An index to journal articles, essays in edited books and conference proceedings in theology.  No electronic full text of articles is provided.)

 

6. Search Engines  Top

Common Search Engines (Includes search boxes for most engines).

 

7. Information Literacy Standards  Top

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (Association of College & Research Libraries)

Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework (PDF)

Information skills in higher education (Society of College, National, and University Libraries) 

Guidelines On Information Literacy For Lifelong Learning (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions - PDF)

 

8. Papers and Research   Top
      
            Bibliographies            Conferences


              A. Bibliographies

Bibliography (UNESCO - PDF)

Information Literacy - Sources of Information

Information literacy in Europe: a literature review (2003)

 

           B. Conferences

Lilac 2007

High-Level International Colloquium on Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning (2005 - Reports available in a variety of Languages)

The 2003 International Conference of Information Literacy Experts (PDF)

Conference for Theological Librarians (2007)

BETH Conference Papers

 

Maintained by William Badke, Associated Canadian Theological Schools of Trinity Western University.

Last Updated 10 October 2008