Information Literacy: Statement of Purpose

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) has recently adopted the newly developed Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (2015).  The Framework seeks to address some of the limitations of the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (2000) and offers a revised and expanded definition of information literacy:

“Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.” 

The Mount A Libraries Information Literacy pages will soon be revised to reflect the transition from the ACRL Standards to the new Framework.

Stay tuned. 

Statement of Purpose

Mount Allison University Librarians are dedicated to encouraging in students a love of learning and to developing their skills for independent, lifelong learning. Information literacy means knowing how to learn; having the ability to locate, critically evaluate and use information effectively.

Developing effective research skills using information has always been an essential part of a liberal arts education. With the vast increase in the amount of information available and the rapidly changing information technologies required to access and use it, becoming information literate has become both more difficult and more important. 

In Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education the Association of College and Research Libraries defines information literacy as the set of skills required for lifelong learning:

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 learning. An information literate individual is able to: 

• Determine the extent of 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 social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally. ¹

The Mount Allison University Strategic Plan referred to the knowledge and learning skills that make up information literacy as part of the "essential knowledge and skills Mount Allison seeks to foster." ²

Mount Allison University Librarians are committed to working with students and faculty to promote information literacy across the curriculum.

Works Cited:

1. Association of College & Research Libraries, American Library Association. Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Chicago: ALA, Jan. 18, 2000. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm (March 13, 2001).
2. Strategic Plan Steering Committee. Mount Allison University Strategic Plan. Sackville, NB: MtA, April 24, 2000:4.http://www.mta.ca/strategicplan (March 13, 2001).

Last updated 12 May 2009