Information Literacy: What is it?

The UST Libraries have adopted the American Library Association--Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education as the foundation for our instruction programs.

ACRL's Definition of Information Literacy

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."

Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning.

The Standards:

1. The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information needed.
   
2. The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently.
   
3. The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system.
   
4. The information literate student, individually or as a member of a group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
   
5. 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.

The standards are fleshed out with performance indicators and outcomes that can be used to plan information literacy instruction and assess student's competence.  The Libraries are committed to working in partnership with teaching faculty in each discipline to ensure that students learn these skills while enrolled at St. Thomas.

The Libraries staff has compiled several bibliographies on various aspects of the topic of information literacy.