Effectiveness of Academic Library Research Guides for Building College Students’ Information Literacy Skills: A Scoping Review

Authors

Erica DeFrain, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Leslie Sult, University of ArizonaFollow
Nicole F. Pagowsky, University of ArizonaFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

9-2025

Citation

College and Research Libraries (September 2025)

Author accepted manuscript

Comments

Copyright 2025, Association of College and Research Libraries. Used by permission

Abstract

Academic library research guides, ubiquitous tools for teaching information literacy, lack robust evidence for their effectiveness. This scoping review considered 1,724 publications, ultimately reporting on findings from 61 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Studies reviewed were highly individualized and primarily exploratory and correlational, with most using mixed methods designs analyzing data from student surveys and web traffic sources. Most studies focused on student satisfaction or guide usability as indicators of learning effectiveness, with few assessments of skills acquisition. We undertook this scoping review to assist practitioners in developing more impactful learning tools and practices as they create and assess guides.