Information Literacy

September 6-12
Information Literacy

Information Literacy is a common topic in the library world. Helping students access, evaluate and use information is one of the most important role of the library media specialist. Technology and the volume of information available have made this role more important. Patrons are not limited to the actual walls of the library anymore for information so our role has been stretched into virtual spaces. Instead of helping patrons find information we are now helping them wade through the easy access to information to find the highest quality resources.

Through reading Ch.2 in Essential Reference Services my view of information literacy was expanded through their discussion of The Common Sense CS3. We reviwed many models of building Information Literacy skills in class with most centering around questioning, reflecting and applying information. Each of these models used the first 3 Information Power Standards of "accessing, evaluating,using information." It is important to remember that these are the 3 standards that librarians are responsible for. Ch. 2 further divides information literacy by these 3 standards:

• Library Literacy: helping students access information by knowing how to use the library and all of it's resources effectively
  
• Information Literacy: evaluating the information itself in terms of quality and authority, and how it fits the need
  
• Knowledge Literacy: a new concept added that applies the new information to create new knowledge and integration
  

This concept of information literacy moves it beyond searching the internet or teaching new technologies. In my opinion it places information literacy in a more challenging cognitive framework that students will carry on for life.