A signature, years of schools, literacy tests, and other methods have been used as indications of literacy. In the midst of the information explosion, the ability to access, retrieve, and evaluate information should constitute a significant part of today's definition of literacy. To be information literate, one should be able t o efficiently and effectively locate and use information needed for problem solving and decision making. New knowledge, not land or capital or machines, is the new frontier, and minds must be prepared to use it. A growing percentage of occupations belong to the information sector of the economy.
Libraries are where the knowledge of all disciplines is related within a meaningful framework.
Libraries provide a model for the information environment in which graduates will need to work and live. They provided the framework for synthesizing specialized knowledge into broader societal contexts. Librarians can help users master critical information literacy skills. Information technology is changing our environment at an ever increasing rate. While such technology provides improved opportunities for accessing information, realizing these opportunities requires knowledge and skills that are not easily acquired and are even more difficult to keep up to date.