Introduction to Information

Skills

WEEK 1
 Introduction

Many students come to University with different levels of research skills. Some will not have used a
Library Catalogue before, others will be unfamiliar with journals and how to search the information held
within them..

The Information Skills Course will show you:

 how to develop search strategies and understand the importance of keywords for retrieving relevant
information for your assignments
 how to search for books and journals using the Library Catalogue (OPAC)
 what journals are and be able to differentiate between different types of journals
 how to search for journal articles using online databases both on and off-campus and how to access the
full text electronic version
 how to access key web-based resources through the Library web pages
 the importance of evaluating the quality of resources
 how to reference the resources you have used

University of Gloucestershire (2009)

 WHAT IS INFORMATION SKILLS?

Information skills are techniques which you will learn

during your time at university to help you not only whilst you
are studying, but throughout your life, at any time when you
may need to find and use information.

Information skills - SOAS University of London

https://www.soas.ac.uk/library/resources/skills/
 INFORMATION, DATA, KNOWLEDGE

 Information is knowledge derived from data

 Data is derived as recorded facts and figures that result form observation,
survey and / or research
 Knowledge is data which an individual recognizes as relevant and is thought
about, interpreted, stored (in a variety of formats) or used for a purpose.
 Information is the result of analysis, synthesis and evaluation based on
available data
 In other words, the data has been
- organized
- structured
- considered
- communicated
 Information can consist of data, images, text, documents and sound,
combination of different parts
 Information Skills

 Information literacy
 Ability to identify, locate, evaluate, and select information
in all formats in order to use it effectively
 Expands upon basic literacy and computer literacy

 Know how to use tools and services available in a library

and know how to evaluate information retrieved
 Information Skills

 Importance
 Familiar with library and academic research
 Improve techniques and skills of searching for
information in the library/information center
 Helps student, who is information literate, evaluate
information critically and competently.
 Information Skills

 Importance
 Exposure to the IT environment and be able to use it
 Enable user to understand the concept of information and
their use and purpose in the academic and other fields
 Information Skills

 Finding information
 Places to GO
 Tools to USE
 What to GET
 What to DO
 SOURCES OF INFORMATION

1. People (including ourselves)

2. Organizations ---- such as commercial organizations, professional

associations, etc.

3. Literature (books, reports, standards, etc.)

4. Information services and electronic database (such as

computerized services, information bureau and brokers)
 CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION

 PRIMARY
Those that present or record certain information for the first time ( i.e
original materials which have not been filtered through interpretation,
condensation, or often even evaluation by a second party). Example:
artifacts, diaries, photographs, interviews.

 SECONDARY
Sources that compile, analyze, synthesize or edit primary sources or other
secondary sources or an index to locate primary sources. Example: textbook,
reviews, translation.

 TERTIARY
Information which is a distillation and collection of primary and secondary
sources. Example: Bibliography, index, abstract.
 FORMAT OF INFORMATION

 PRINTED
uses paper. Eg: books, magazines, newspaper, and pamphlets

 ELECTRONIC / ONLINE
use computer to deliver information. Include CD-ROM and
Internet

 AUDIOVISUAL
requires us to watch or listen, example includes slides, films, audio
cassette, videocassette, CD, DVD

 MICROFORM
transform information into microfiche and microfilm and need a
viewer to read the information
TYPES OF INFORMATION AGENCIES

WEEK 2
 Types of information agencies
 Libraries
 Archives/ Records Center

 Museums

 Resource Center / Information center

 Library

 From the word “liber” = books

 Can be defined as a collection of publications – print
and non-print - organized in a systematic manner.
 Archives/Record Center

 a place in which public records or historical

documents are preserved
 a repository or collection especially of information
 Museum

 a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings

and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and
shown to the public.
 Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning
and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make
accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society.
According to the ICOM Statutes, adopted by the 22nd General Assembly in Vienna,
Austria on August 24th, 2007:
 A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its
development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates
and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the
purposes of education, study and enjoyment.
http://collectionsearch.nma.gov.au/
Patung Avalokitesvara ini ditemui di sebuah lombong bijih timah milik Anglo Oriental, Bidor,
Perak pada tahun 1936. Ia diperbuat daripada gangsa dan mempunyai lapan tangan namun satu
daripadanya telah patah. Mengikut pentarikhan, patung ini dianggarkan wujud antara kurun ke-
7 hingga 12 Masihi pada zaman peradaban Hindu-Buddha. Berat patung ini ialah 140 paun dan
tinggi 93 sm. Artifak ini telah diisytiharkan sebagai Objek Warisan Ketara di bawah Senarai
Warisan Kebangsaan 2009.

Artifak warisan bm Loceng gangsa yang ditemui di Kampung Pencu, Muar, Johor ini dipercayai
digunakan sebagai lambang kuasa dan status pemiliknya. Rekabentuk dan corak yang terdapat
pada loceng gangsa ini mempunyai persamaan dengan Gendang Dong Son yang berasal dari
Dong Son, Vietnam. Artifak ini telah diisytiharkan sebagai Objek Warisan Ketara di bawah Senarai
Warisan Kebangsaan 2009.
Resource Center/Information center