Because of the escalating complexity of this environment, individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices - in their academic studies, in the work place, and in their personal lives. Information is available through libraries, community resources, special interest organizations, media, and the Internet - and increasingly, information comes to individuals in unfiltered formats, raising questions about its authenticity, validity, and reliability. In addition, information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural, and textual, and these pose new challenge for individuals in evaluating and understanding it. The uncertain quality and expanding quantity of information pose large challenges for society. The sheer abundance of information will not in itself create a more informed citizenry without a complementary cluster of abilities necessary to use information effectively.
Information literacy forms the basis for life long 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 own learning. Last updated on Nov. 1, 2000.