Becca Tedesco
IS 510
Exercise 5:
Daily Log of Information Sources and Channels
For this exercise, I recorded the numerous methods through which I seek information
during my day. I have organized this log by the type of literacy each activity represents.
Media Literacy is the ability to utilize a variety of communication devices in order to
gain and distribute knowledge. Its components include the aptitudes to access, analyze, evaluate,
and communicate information through media and technology messages. Sources can include, but
are not limited to radio broadcast, television programs, newspapers, magazines, and
conversation.

In the morning while getting ready for work, I turned the television to CNN in order to
hear news updates. The most prominent story that morning was updates regarding
Anthony Weiner’s election campaign and the arrival of President Obama in Chattanooga,
Tennessee.

Listened to NPR in car on way to work, back home, and on my lunch break. During the
time of my work commute, I usually hear news updates, especially regarding foreign
affairs. My lunch break usually falls during the “Fresh Air” segment, which consists of
interviews regarding human interest stories.

Signed into Facebook and checked my “News” and “Library Things” Interest Lists, two
lists I created in order to organize some of the pages that I follow into appropriate
categories. I usually spend the most time looking through the “Library Things” list, as it
shows me updates from other libraries like DC Public and Knox County as well as groups
like ALA and TLA. I use this information for both personal knowledge and sometimes to
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repost on my library’s Facebook page. I also tend to share these stories on my personal
Facebook page and through email in order to distribute them to others and sometimes to
create conversation about the topics.

Spoke with several colleagues about upcoming projects and ideas on how to prepare for
the beginning of the school semester (I work in an academic library, so this is one of the
busiest times of the years for us). We shared suggestions and feedback with each other.

While sorting newspapers, I browsed through some news headlines and read some
stories. Although this is not a thorough way to collect information it did allow me to gain
an idea of current events and to pursue any that seemed of particular interest or
importance.

Browsed Pinterest to look for Library display ideas for the upcoming months and for tips
to pass on to students. Pinterest is a website with high visual impact, which makes it
easier for me to find ideas that seem immediately effective. I have two Pinterest accounts:
one specifically for myself to save ideas to and one for the library in order to share
information about research, new book releases, and fun finds with our patrons.

Looked through Publisher’s Weekly magazine to note any upcoming titles that may
warrant acquisition. This involved reading reviews and recording any titles or authors
that sounded as though they would be met with interest by our users.

At home, watched a few cooking shows while browsing recipes, nutrition facts, and store
coupons online. For me, this is an example of information berrypicking, meaning that I
may start with one information need in mind and then go off in other directions as I find
small parts of what I need. In this case, I started by hearing about a pork tenderloin dish
on a cooking show, then conducted an internet search for similar recipes. When I selected
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one with high reviews, I browsed through its ingredients and, without fully reading the
recipe, started looking for coupons for some of the more expensive items. When I am
conducting such searches, I tend to have multiple tabs open on my device in order to
quickly shift back and forth between websites.
In my opinion, having strong media literacy allows an individual to remain as informed
about current events as possible. Using sources like the news and live feed updates insure
quick facts. These type of sources also allow for various voices and opinions to be applied to
topics, which can often lead to a better understanding of the information. Without media
literacy, an individual will likely be slow to find out about current events and will not have
the opportunity to hear different thoughts on the matter.
Computer literacy is the ability to correctly use and implement IT systems and is
something that I use every day in my job.

When I arrived at work, I turned my computer on and signed in using my assigned
username and password.

I opened my Microsoft Outlook email account and read through my emails and alerts for
the day. I organized some important emails that I may need in the future into folders that
are saved to my computer’s hard drive.

Ran Circulation Reports using the Voyager program on my desktop in order to check
statistics and troubleshoot any issues.

My library has recently built a learning commons area that is intended for student
innovation and collaboration. I received a tutorial from a colleague on how to navigate
new iMac computers and software and on how to use new Promethean board for
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presentations. Although I own an iPad, I am not familiar with the Apple computer
operating system and needed to expand my knowledge of its features.

Using Microsoft Office, created several word documents and excel sheets regarding
student participation in activities in order to send to my supervisor. Also used Publisher
to create a few information signs regarding tutoring to display throughout the library.
Computer literacy is a necessary skill for this time in the work and education force. Without
an understanding of the basic functions of computers, and individual would not have been able to
complete any of these tasks. Reports, email, and documents all require computers to successfully
implement. Being a community college, we have many nontraditional students who are starting
back to school after a significant time away. These individuals often have extremely basic or no
computer skills, and tend to find themselves unable to complete many rudimentary assignments.
This is why we as a library work so hard to reach out to those students and teach them the
computer literacy skills that they need – it is necessary for their survival in school and in future
work environments.
Digital literacy is the cognitive ability to decipher and operate the applications of a digital
device. This goes beyond computer literacy because, in addition to understanding the basic
systems and functions of a device, an individual must be able to execute tasks through system
interfaces and decipher the information that it provides.

Conducted internet search for “best books of Fall 2013” in order to determine possible
titles for upcoming new fiction order. As mentioned before, my internet searches tend to
utilize multiple tabs in order to allow for me to easily transition between websites. In this
case, I use sites such as Publisher’s Weekly, Goodreads, Amazon, and Kirkus Reviews
in order to determine the interest in each book.
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
Used the Flipboard app on my iPad to look through Twitter updates, news stories, and
blog posts. Although the ability to understand the information from these sites may also
be considered Media Literacy, the ability to correctly use and create a presence in the
Flipboard app would be attributed as a digital literacy skill. It is a way to take information
from a variety of sources and contain it within one application that is brimming with
news and updates.

As part of a project to compile a list of titles for an ESL student seeking easy and quickly
interesting young adult fiction books to help him improve his English, I conducted a
Google search for “teen books for reluctant readers.” Again, I used multiple tabs to sift
through several websites and book lists.

Attended a webinar on “Learning in the Learning Commons” in order to improve my
knowledge of our new collaborative learning area. Used the webinar interface to speak
during the session and to chat with individuals who were also attending the class.
Digital literacy is important in order to understand how to best utilize the advanced
machines available to individuals. Although knowing their basic functions is certainly key,
not knowing how to implement advanced programs that help retrieve information means that
a person is not acquiring information in the easiest way possible.
Information literacy is the ability to recognize the need for information and then to find,
comprehend, and evaluate sources for that particular need. As an academic library with an
emphasis on student needs, information literacy is part of our daily routine and is a skill that
we try to enforce to everyone.

In continuation of ESL book title list, used OPAC system to search for a High – Low
suggestion book, recorded call number, and searched for item on shelf. Then scanned
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through book to look for possible titles. After finding some possibilities and determining
that my library did not carry those items, I determined the information to not be relevant
to my needs.

Again for the ESL title list, used the Gale Books and Authors database in order to search
for recommended similar titles to The Hunger Games (this was a book the student had
enjoyed and wanted to read stories similar to its concept). Upon finding titles, I
determined their reading levels and availability at my library, and then recorded ones that
suited my needs.

Recorded statistics of all Circulation encounters while at desk. As a staff, this is done in
order to determine what needs students have most often and which areas we may need to
work on or cut resources from. Predicting these needs are attributes of information
literacy.
Information literacy is a vital skill for conducting research but is also necessary in order to
fact check resources. Without information literacy, and individual would not know what sources
to use in order to acquire information and would not know how to evaluate the information
provided to them in order to determine its accuracy. A lack of information literacy can lead to a
serious lack of critical thinking and disconnect from the actualities of the world.
From this exercise I have learned that types of literacy overlap with each other and share
many of the same skill requirements. In fact, they are so connected that it can be argued that all
of them are components of one overarching area of information science, or that the nature of
technology and development has classified them all as part of digital literacy. A knowledge of all
of these literacies is important for success in today’s world, and it is the responsibility of those of
us who do grasp the concepts to pass along our knowledge to others.