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." Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report

Information literacy also is increasingly important in the contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources. Because of the escalating complexity of this environment, individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices--in their academic studies, in the workplace, and in their personal lives. Information is available through libraries, community resources, special interest organizations, media, and the Internet--and increasingly, information comes to individuals in unfiltered formats, raising questions about its authenticity, validity, and reliability. In addition, information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural, and textual, and these pose new challenges for individuals in evaluating and understanding it. The uncertain quality and expanding quantity of information pose large challenges for society. The sheer abundance of information will not in itself create a more informed citizenry without a complementary cluster of abilities necessary to use information effectively.

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. An information literate individual is able to:

Assessment Forum: 9 Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning from the American Association for Higher Education.

Assessment of Information Literacy: Lessons from the Higher Education Assessment Movement
by Lois Pausch and Mary P Popp.
This paper reviews higher education assessment methods; identifies useful theories and practices; describes assessment programs in academic libraries; and makes recommendations for changes in library education.

ACRL Information Literacy website by The Association of College and Research Libraries.

The ACRL Information Literacy Coordinating Committee's gateway to resources on information literacy. These resources will help you understand and apply the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education to enhance teaching, learning, and research in the higher education community.

Information Literacy Library Instruction Outcomes from Florida International University Libraries.

ACRL Information Literacy site includes information on Standards, Best Practices, and Immersion.

Characteristics of Programs of Information Literacy that Illustrate Best Practices: A Guideline This site includes information on the mission, goals & objectives, planning, support, curriculum, collaboration, pedagogy, staffing, outreach, and assessment of information literacy's best practices.

Guidelines for Instruction Programs in Academic Libraries An excellent site from ALA that discusses design, structure and evaluation of information literacy.

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education Includes the standards, performance indicators, and outcomes approved by the Board of Directors of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).

Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction with responsibility tags for both librarians and faculty members.

Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report This site discusses the importance of information literacy to individuals, businesses, and citizenship.

Comprehensive Online Research Education (CORE) from Purdue University. You will be required to login as a guest user.

Finding Information on the Internet - a Library Tutorial University of California, Berkeley Libraries web site.

Information Literacy Tutorial by Minneapolis Community & Technical College. Includes a Pretest, several modules, and quizzes for each lesson.

Information Literacy Tutorial by St. Johns University

Oasis (Online Advancement of Student Information Skills) by San Francisco State University

Tutorials and Guides from the University of Arizona

Tutorials from Penn State University.