Service
Highlights
Library
Instruction Services
What
is Information Literacy?
The
American Library Association defines information literacy as a set
of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information
is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively
the needed information."1
Information
literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to
all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels
of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their
investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control
over their own learning.
An
information literate individual is able to:
| 1. |
Determine
the extent of information needed |
| 2. |
Access
the needed information effectively and efficiently |
| 3. |
Evaluate
information and its sources critically |
| 4. |
Incorporate
selected information into one's knowledge base |
| 5. |
Use
information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose |
| 6. |
Understand
the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use
of information, and access and use information ethically and
legally"2 |
____________________________________
1
American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information
Literacy. Final Report.(Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.)
2 "Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education."
American Library Association. 2006. http://www.ala.org/acrl/ilcomstan.html
(Accessed 17 Oct, 2006)
|
