Definition of Information Literacy
- "Information Literacy is the ability to identify, retrieve, evaluate, and use information that is appropriate to a need. Students who develop information literacy skills will be more successful in their studies and their daily lives. They will find that these skills are an essential element in becoming a lifelong learner." -- From Western Michigan University Libraries Information Literacy Site
- "Information literate people are those who have learned how to learn. They know how to learn because they know how knowledge is organized, how to find information, and how to use information in such a way that others can learn from them. They are people prepared for lifelong learning, because they can always find the information needed for any task or decision at hand." -- From ACRL Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report: Association of College & Research Libraries
- Information Literacy is "the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information. Information literacy is more closely tied to course-integrated instruction but it extends far beyond coordination between the reference librarian and the individual faculty member. Even a cursory review of the Information Literacy Competency Standards will show that there is much more to information literacy competence than library-related research. Students must demonstrate competencies in formulating research questions and in their ability to use information as well as an understanding of ethical and legal issues surrounding information. This requires a campus culture of collaboration and focus on student learning." -- From ACRL Information Literacy Glossary
- Glossary of Library Terms: PDF document from Babson Library.
- Glossary of Terms: From module of Babson Library's Searchpath online tutorial.
- Information Literacy Toolbox for Faculty: From Slippery Rock University