Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. - What Is Information Literacy?

Instructor Resources

What Is Information Literacy?

Several definitions of information literacy have been used by librarians and teaching faculty. Here are two explanations favored by Concordia librarians:

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) (2000) defines an information literate person as being able to "... recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." [1]

In a recent article, Patricia Senn Breivik (2005) describes information literacy as "a kind of critical thinking ability; often the terms are used interchangeably. But a person who is information literate specifically uses critical thinking to negotiate our information-overloaded existence." [2]

Why Is Information Literacy Important?

According to the ACRL, "information literacy is the solution to Data Smog. It allows us to cope by giving us the skills to know when we need information and where to locate it effectively and efficiently. It includes the technological skills needed to use the modern library as a gateway to information. It enables us to analyze and evaluate the information we find, thus giving us confidence in using that information to make a decision or create a product." Read more...

Where Can I Learn More About Information Literacy?

A great place to start is a visit with your liaison librarian. Concordia librarians are eager to work with you to strengthen information literacy components of your Critical Inquiry Seminar and your upper level courses. Excellent information is also available from the following:

Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)

Articles (linked full-text available to Concordia community)

Lecki, G.J. (1996). Desperately seeking citations: uncovering faculty assumptions about undergraduate research. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 22(3), 201-209.

Breivik, P.S. (2005). 21st century learning and information literacy. Change, 37(2), 20-27.