Category: Information Literacy

Information Literacy

Information literacy has been known by many different names: library orientation; bibliographic instruction; user education; information skills training.  Each has built on the other.  Library orientation concentrates on how to use a physical building and bibliographic instruction and user education on the mechanics of using particular resources.  Information skills training and finally information literacy concentrates on cognitive and transferable skills, such as problem solving, evaluation and communication skills.

In the UK, information literacy is defined by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals as:

“Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.”

Why  Information Literacy is essential to libraries

The right information to the right person at the right time is the key to success for any organisation. Libraries employ staff with the expertise to locate, retrieve and exploit information in order to:

  • enable easy access to information resources in all formats while taking responsibility for its currency and relevance
  • identify and acquire the materials of most relevance
  • organise those materials in an easily accessible manner
  • train staff to access and exploit relevant information resources in the most effective way
  • take the lead in raising the levels of information literacy within the organisation

Information literacy skills allow library and information professionals to create, develop and manage a library or information unit which meets the specific information needs of their organisation.

IL websites

There are many websites dedicated to information literacy. Below is a sample of what is available.

Anne Robinson’s Strongest links

  Excellent site from a practitioner who won the School Librarian of the Year award 2005. Links are provided for online tutorials, resources and tools, models and for the different IL stages. Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL)  

Information Literacy Links

 

Information Literacy Links

 

Information Literacy Links

 

Information Literacy Links

Information Literacy Links

 

 

(EnIL) aims at opening a discourse on Information Literacy at a European level, in order to promoting the establishment of a Culture of Information in Europe.   

le guide des égarés

 

le guide des égarés

 

le guide des égarés

 

le guide des égarés

le guide des égarés

 

is a website created by a french teacher-librarian who has prepared a thesis about information literacy and “culture de l’information”. IFLA has developed 

InfoLit Global a database to record information literacy materials from different parts of the world, on behalf of UNESCO

 

InfoLit Global a database to record information literacy materials from different parts of the world, on behalf of UNESCO

 

InfoLit Global a database to record information literacy materials from different parts of the world, on behalf of UNESCO

 

InfoLit Global a database to record information literacy materials from different parts of the world, on behalf of UNESCO

InfoLit Global a database to record information literacy materials from different parts of the world, on behalf of UNESCO

 

The ilit.org site promotes information literacy (IL) as the foundation of independent and lifelong learning. The site is maintained by Susie Andretta and was originally sponsored by HEA-ICS (2002-2003) and by SWAPltsn (2002-2004).

IL-webliography is maintained by Ola Pilerot.  It attempts to collect and organize

 

different contributions in the field of information literacy literature. The site lists articles, websites and bibliographies.

Information Literacy Links was developed by Christine Bruce and provides links to several information literacy resources including the Seven Faces of Information Literacy.


Information Literacy Place was developed by Sheila Webber and Bill Johnston. It aims to provide links to information literacy resources and provoke discussion on information literacy and how it should be taught.

 

 

different contributions in the field of information literacy literature. The site lists articles, websites and bibliographies.

Information Literacy Links was developed by Christine Bruce and provides links to several information literacy resources including the Seven Faces of Information Literacy.


Information Literacy Place was developed by Sheila Webber and Bill Johnston. It aims to provide links to information literacy resources and provoke discussion on information literacy and how it should be taught.

 

 

LOEX: Clearinghouse for library instruction.  LOEX

provides information on all aspects of instruction and information literacy to libraries and librarians who are institutional members.


The National Forum on Information Literacy was created in 1989 as a response to the recommendations of the American Library Association’s Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. It maintains a web page called ‘ Related information literacy web sites.’

 

IL-webliography is maintained by Ola Pilerot.  It attempts to collect and organize

 

 LOEX: Clearinghouse for library instruction.  LOEX

More resources on Information Literacy