Information Literacy Statement

According to the American Library Association Presidential Committee on 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…. Ultimately, 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." A Information Literate individual is able to do the following:

• Determine the information needed.
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently.
• Evaluate information and its sources critically.
• Incorporate selected information into one's knowledge base.
• Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
• Understand the economic, legal, and cultural issues surrounding the use of information.
• Apply and utilize Information Literacy skills in various situations.

Curry College is in the process of determining how Information Literacy will be defined for its community and how Information Literacy skills will be cultivated.

For more information see the following resources, from the Association of College and Research Libraries:
Information Literacy for Academic Faculty and Administrators
Introduction to Information Literacy
Information Literacy Standards: Step by Step