Information Literacy Learning Hub
Practical, self-paced lessons to search effectively, assess evidence and use information responsibly.
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Student pathway
Find, evaluate and cite reliable information for assignments.
Search smarter: keywords and Boolean logic
Start with the main concepts in your question. List synonyms, then combine concepts with AND. Use OR for synonyms and NOT carefully to exclude a concept. Quotation marks can search a phrase when the database supports them. Truncation and wildcard symbols vary by database, so consult its help page.
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Using OPACs, catalogues and databases
A library catalogue (OPAC) describes items held or licensed by a library. A bibliographic database indexes literature in a subject area. Check title, author, subject headings, edition, publication date, availability and access links. Use a database thesaurus or subject headings when available.
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Evaluate sources and misinformation
Pause before sharing a claim. Investigate who created it, what evidence supports it, when it was published and why it exists. Search outside the page: look for independent reporting, original documents and expert consensus. A polished design, high search ranking or confident tone is not proof. Distinguish facts, interpretations, advertising and opinion.
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Citation, paraphrasing and academic integrity
Cite sources whenever you quote, paraphrase or rely on another person’s ideas. A paraphrase restates an idea genuinely in your own words and structure; changing a few words is not enough. Keep accurate source notes. Follow the required citation style and check the source details. Disclose AI assistance where institutional policy requires it.
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Researcher pathway
Build reproducible searches and manage research information responsibly.
Advanced and reproducible database searching
Translate a research question into concepts, synonyms and controlled vocabulary. Record database names, platform, search strings, date searched, limits and result counts. Adapt syntax to each database and document changes. Test whether known relevant papers are retrieved and refine transparently.
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Research integrity, open access and AI
Assess journal and publisher practices rather than relying on a single metric. Check peer-review information, editorial boards, fees, preservation and indexing claims. Verify AI-generated references against original sources: models can fabricate citations and misstate evidence. Protect confidential data and follow institutional, funder and publisher policies.
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Faculty & Educators pathway
Teach information literacy and help learners assess evidence.
Teaching source evaluation and media literacy
Use authentic examples and ask learners to explain their evidence. Teach them to inspect the original source, corroborate claims, recognise emotional framing and distinguish evidence from assertion. Avoid reducing evaluation to a single checklist score: context and the stakes of a claim matter.
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AI-generated content and responsible use
AI-generated text, images and references may be inaccurate, biased or synthetic. Check claims against trustworthy primary sources, disclose AI use where required and consider privacy, copyright, bias and accessibility. Do not submit confidential or personal information to tools without appropriate authorisation.