Information & Data Literacy: Getting Started

Information Literacy is the ability for users to recognize when information is needed and the ability to locate, evaluate, and use resources/information effectively. There are five components of information literacy:

The 5 information literacy standards are described more in the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education by the American Library Association. You should be able to:

• Determine the nature and extent of information needs.
  • You should be able to define information needs, identify types of sources, and consider benefits of information.
• Access information effectively and efficiently.
  • You should be able to select the appropriate method of retrieval, construct search strategies, and retrieve information.
• Evaluate information and incorporate into knowledge.
  • You should be able to summarize main ideas, apply evaluation criteria, and construct new concepts from main ideas.
• Use information to accomplish a specific purpose.
  • You should be able to apply new and prior information, revise the development process, and communicate the product effectively.
• Understand issues surrounding the use of information.
  • You should be able to understand ethical and legal issues, follow laws/regulations/institutional policies, and acknowledge the use of information.

Watch this video from Seminole State Library to learn more about the five components of information literacy.