Entering Unfamiliar Territory

Abstract

The article discusses the role of library information literacy courses in supporting graduate students in interdisciplinary research. It focuses on challenges faced by graduate researchers and suggests that an information literacy course can aid student researchers on various levels. In particular, information literacy can help graduate students learn about an unfamiliar discipline, locate the works of key authors and research institutions, and determine when they have gathered enough information. Topics include the information-seeking behaviors of interdisciplinary researchers, citation and browsing activity, and the importance of monitoring developments in disciplinary fields.