Information Literacy Standards and Resources
Definition of Information Literacy
According to the American Library Association's Presidential Committeee on Information Literacy (1989), information literacy is 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."
Summary of the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/informationliteracycompetency.htm
Standard One
The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information needed.
- Defines and articulates the need for information
- Identifies a variety of types and formats of potential sources for information
- Considers the costs and benefits of acquiring the needed information
- Reevaluates the nature and extent of the information need
Standard Two
The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently.
- Selects the most appropriate investigative methods or information retrieval systems for accessing the needed information
- Constructs and implements effectively-designed search strategies
- Retrieves information online or in person using a variety of methods
- Refines the search strategy if necessary
- Extracts, records, and manages the information and its sources
Standard Three
The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system.
- Summarizes the main ideas to be extracted from the information gathered
- Articulates and applies initial criteria for evaluating both the information and its sources
- Synthesizes main ideas to construct new concepts
- Compares new knowledge with prior knowledge to determine the value added, contradictions, or other unique characteristics of the information
- Determines whether the new knowledge has an impact on the individual’s value system and takes steps to reconcile differences
- Validates understanding and interpretation of the information through discourse with other individuals, subject-area experts, and/or practitioners
- Determines whether the initial query should be revised
Standard Four
The information literate student, individually or as a member of a group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
- Applies new and prior information to the planning and creation of a particular product or performance
- Revises the development process for the product or performance
- Communicates the product or performance effectively to others
Standard Five
The information literate student understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally.
- Understands many of the ethical, legal and socio-economic issues surrounding information and information technology
- Follows laws, regulations, institutional policies, and etiquette related to the access and use of information resources
- Acknowledges the use of information sources in communicating the product or performance
Additional Information Literacy Resources
The 9 Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
Information literacy standards for primary and secondary students developed by the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications Technology
9 Information Literacy Standards
Big6™ Skills
An apporach to teaching information and technology skills used primarily in K-12, but also in higher education, and corporate and adult training.
This page was written by Olivia Reinauer in Spring 2005.
This page was reviewed by Derek Najera in Spring 2006.
This page was revised by Kyla Kothman in Spring 2007.
INF 382S: Library Instruction and Information Literacy, taught by Dr. Loriene Roy
School of Information,
The University of Texas at Austin