CIDR - Information Literacy

Information Literacy, as defined by the American Library Association's Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, comprises a set of skills that enable a person "to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information" (1989).

Literacy related to technology (i.e., hardware and software use), multimedia presentations, and genres of electronic communication (e.g., academic web pages) emerged as extensions of this core concept. Recent trends in higher education suggest that effective information literacy instruction is integrated into curricula and courses, emphasizing the importance of collaborations between instructors and librarians.

Reference: American Library Association, Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. (1989). Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report

CIDR Resources

	CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin Information Literacy: The Library Connection CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 3(4) Planning Research Assignments CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 11(1)

	Consult with CIDR CIDR consultants are also available to meet with you as you develop, implement, and assess your approaches to incorporating information literacy activities into your courses. See our Consulting pages on exploring teaching issues, designing courses and assignments, and collecting student feedback for more information. To schedule a consultation, call 206-543-6588, or contact us by email to arrange an appointment.

UW Resources

	University of Washington Information Literacy Learning (UWill) An information literacy education service provided by University of Washington Libraries; includes a web-based student tutorial that faculty may integrate into their courses, Research 101, along with an extensive reading list on information literacy in higher education.

Additional Resources

Association of College and Research Libraries. (2003). Information Literacy for Faculty and Administrators. Chicago: American Library Association.

Association of College and Research Libraries. (2000). Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Chicago: American Library Association.

Committee on Information Technology Literacy, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications, National Research Council. (1999). Being Fluent with Information Technology. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Holliday, W., & Fagerheim, B. (2006). Integrating information literacy with a sequenced English composition curriculum. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 6(2), 169-184.

Overholtzer, J., & Tombarge, J. (2003). Promoting information fluency. EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 26(1), 55-58.

Shapiro, J. J., & Hughes, S. K. (1996). Information literacy as a liberal art: Enlightenment proposals for a new curriculum. Educom Review, 31(2), n.p.

National Forum on Information Literacy