Welcome to the VALE Online Information Literacy Archive
The purpose of the VALE Online Information Literacy Archive (VOILA) is to provide the New Jersey academic library community with an easily accessible method for collecting, sharing and disseminating high quality materials supporting information literacy instruction. The project goal is to enable staff at VALE libraries to build upon the work of their colleagues, to enrich the common database by contributing their own work for others to use and to encourage collaborative development of materials across institutional boundaries.
Database Access
- Browse or Search Existing Records
- Submit New Materials to the Database
[Please note our online submission form includes a URL field for the item to be shared. This assumes: (a) the contributor has access to a web server, preferably at his/her library; and (b) that any multi-part item can be obtained through the single URL submitted. If you would like to contribute an item for VOILA but do not have access to a web server, VALE can host the item for you. To have VALE host your item, please complete the online submission form - omitting the URL field - and email the item to Richard Kearney (kearneyr@wpunj.edu), including the title of the item in the subject line of your message.]
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Scope of the Database?
- How Does VOILA Work?
- What Criteria Will Be Used to Review Submissions?
- How Long will the Review Process Take?
- What About Copyright Issues?
- Need More Information?
What is the Scope of the Database?
Audience: The VALE Online Information Literacy Archive (VOILA) consists of materials developed by staff at VALE member libraries for use in their information literacy instruction. Usually, the target audiences are college-level students, faculty or staff, although materials for the general public and specialized audiences are also welcomed.
Subject Areas: Instructional materials on any academic subject may be contributed.
Document Types: "Instructional materials" consist of materials used to support learning information literacy. Instructional materials by type include, but are not limited to, assessment tools, lesson plans, tutorials, simulations and virtual tools, handouts, etc.
Document Format: Instructional materials in a wide variety of formats may be submitted for inclusion in the database. Materials may range from relatively basic text documents to more sophisticated multi-media presentations, providing they are available online.
How Does VOILA Work?
The VOILA database, which can be both searched and browsed, consists of links and descriptions submitted by VALE librarians pointing to instructional materials residing on the host institutions’ servers. Librarians and other VALE staff are encouraged to use the web form to submit their materials for inclusion. Each submission will be reviewed by the members of the SIL Administrative team before being displayed in the database.
What Criteria Will Be Used to Review Submissions?
Materials submitted for inclusion in VOILA will be reviewed by the members of the SIL Administrative team to determine:
- If the Submission Form is complete
- If the resource falls within the stated Scope of the project
- If the URL leads to the described instructional material
- If the internal links are functional
How Long will the Review Process Take?
Usually, the VOILA Administrators will complete their reviews within two weeks after a resource has been submitted. Donors will be contacted by a Team member with feedback if necessary or with the date the material will be displayed.
What About Copyright Issues?
VOILA is an educational, non-commercial project whose goal is to encourage the sharing of locally created materials among members of the VALE consortium. Therefore, those who submit resources are strongly encouraged to select the Creative Commons’ Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike copyright option. Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that offers flexible copyright licenses for creative works. See http://creativecommons.org/ and particularly the FAQ at http://creativecommons.org/faq for assistance in understanding this new licensing option. However, since institutional or creator requirements may preclude that option, a second choice offers those who submit materials to require that they be contacted prior to any use. These are the only two options.
It is expected that a contribution has been checked prior to submission for any copyright issues (i.e., unless in the public domain, permissions have been obtained for materials included produced by other than the contributor.)
Need More Information?
Contact a Member of the Shared Information Literacy Committee.
Database Access