FORMIST : a network to help training in Information literacy in France

Abstract

Information literacy has acquired /taking step by step/little by little a significant place position in the panorama of French universities over the past 10 years. It is organised in a very structured way, and it receives substantial state support.

User training and the creation and broadcasting of educational documents is organised on a 3 level system:

1. local level: university libraries
2. regional level: seven URFIST (Unités Régionales de Formation à l'Information Scientifique et Technique)
3. national level: FORMIST (Réseau francophone de FORmation à l'Information Scientifique et Technique). FORMIST was introduced created in 1997 at ENSSIB (Ecole Nationale Supérieure en Sciences de l'Information et des Bibliothèques).

FORMIST is a French website gathering educational tools, recommendations and information about information literacy (IL) and making them available to two kindskinds of communities: instructors (either teachers or library staff) and students. FORMIST also assumes the important role of coordinating an information instructors' network, through colloquiums, workshops and instructing future librarians in teaching skills.