LS 101 Information Literacy

What is Information Literacy

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) 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. 

The Information Literacy Project of Philadelphia University lists 5 aspects that help define and form the basis of information literacy skills:

• The ability to articulate one's information need
• The ability to identify, locate and access appropriate sources of information to meet the information need
• The ability to effectively use information resources, regardless of format
• The ability to critically and ethically apply the information
• The ability to determine if the need has been adequately met

Information literacy skills form core competencies, or abilities, that only improve and mature with their utilization. Thus, like other skills, they can be improved upon and built from points of basic instruction in the topic and practice and use of the skills.

Finally information literacy is an inclusive concept, which includes aspects of computer literacy, media literacy and cultural literacy.