Imagine No Possessions: Librarians, the Net-Generation Student, and the Imminent Victory of Plagiarism

Plagiarism's evolution, growing cultural acceptance, and sustained presence in student writing has overwhelmed deficient, outdated academic integrity policies. Cultural differences present in today's Net-generation students require academic librarians and teaching faculty to develop a partnership in order to reassess beleaguered and vague plagiarism definitions and compromised prevention strategies. Current ACRL policies and strategies on plagiarism prevention are examined to reveal their inadequacies. As instruction sessions often fail to consistently address the ethical use of scholarly sources and the Net-generation student's injudicious uses of technology, a new direction is offered, one that is centered not on punitive online detection policies or acquiescence to wavering ethical standards, but rather on the collaborative efforts of the entire academic community.