What Is Information Literacy?
Defining Information Literacy
Information literacy is the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information. In a world flooded with data, news, social media posts, and AI-generated content, this skill is more critical than ever.
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) defines information literacy as part of a broader set of "Shared Foundations" — including Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, and Engage.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
The average person encounters thousands of pieces of information every day. Without the skills to critically evaluate what we read, watch, and share, we become vulnerable to misinformation, manipulation, and poor decision-making.
- Over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every day
- Misinformation spreads 6x faster than accurate information on social media
- Only 26% of Americans can correctly identify a factual statement vs. an opinion
- AI-generated content is increasingly indistinguishable from human-written text
Information audit
Choose one claim you encountered online today. Pause before deciding whether to trust or share it.
- Write the claim in your own words.
- Name one question you would need answered before relying on it.
- Identify one credible place you could check for evidence.
- Explain which of the five pillars you used first and why.
Reflect: What would change if you treated every important claim as a question to investigate rather than a fact to repeat?
The Five Pillars of Information Literacy
- Identify — Recognize the need for information and define the question
- Find — Locate relevant information from appropriate sources
- Evaluate — Assess the credibility, accuracy, and relevance of sources
- Apply — Use information effectively and ethically
- Acknowledge — Cite sources and respect intellectual property
"An information literate person knows how to learn. 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."
— American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, 1989
Defining Information Literacy · What Is Information Literacy?
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