Impact of Academic Life on Information Literacy of LIS Undergraduate Students

The present survey attempts to evaluate the literacy level of undergraduate students of library and information science and the influence of academic educational programs on their literacy level.Design/methodology/approach:The study was conducted as a longitudinal survey. Participants encompasses 20 first year and 20 undergraduate students of library and information science at Zabol University in the academic year 2007-2008. Survey data were collected through standard questionnaires designed according to Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (ACRL) by Davarpanah and Siamak.The results indicate that the literacy level of the first year and undergraduate students was below average. The level of basic and factual information literacy competency also differed for the first year and undergraduate students with the undergraduates having a higher level.Academic educational programs of the university, whether formal or informal, directly influence the literacy level of students. Considering the results of the present and past surveys, it was established that formal or informal academic educational programs of university improves the information literacy level of students by three grades per year.