Library Network Support Services: Quantitative and Qualitative Measures for Assessing the Impact of Information Literacy Initiatives on Learners

Recent developments have seen an interest in quantitative and qualitative measures in the field of information literacy now widely considered the trademark pedagogy of librarians (Kapitzke 2003 cited in Montiel-Overall 2007). International frameworks for assessing information literacy through which positive developments at both international and national levels can be demonstrated and future efforts can be better focused are being identified. This article reports on the Library Network Support Services (LNSS) project - a collaboration to implement and champion online information literacy initiatives across a consortium consisting of a university, a teacher education institution and two Institutes of Technology in the Republic of Ireland. The paper describes the origin and development of the LNSS, deals with the growing importance of information literacy - in the Republic of Ireland and internationally. We will describe the process and methodology for implementing online information literacy initiatives including information literacy teaching across the consortium and also suggest possibilities for measuring the impact of information literacy initiatives on learners for the development of knowledge societies.