Information Literacy

What is information literacy?

"Information literacy is a 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."

In plain language

  • You recognize when you need information.
  • You know where and how to look for it.
  • You assess its credibility, relevance, adn bias.
  • You use it ethically (citations, permissions, respecting copyright).
  • You may also create new information and share it responsibility. 

Why it matters today

  • The sheer volume of content (scholarly, pseudo-scholarly, personal, commercial) demands critical filters.
  • In a digital world, everyone is both a consumer and producer of information (a concept reinforced the idea of metaliteracy),
  • Without it, misinformation, malinformation, echo chambers, and superficial knowledge become more likely.

Starting Your Research

Research assignments can be difficult to begin, especially if you are not sure how to get started.  This guide is intended to help you learn how to evaluate sources, as well as learn what types of resources are available to you and how to access them.

For more research and writing help, check out the guides below.