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What is Information Literacy?
Information literacy is an
understanding and set of abilities enabling individuals to ‘recognise
when information is needed and have the capacity to locate, evaluate,
and use effectively the needed information’.3 An information
literate person is able to
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recognise a need for
information
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determine the extent of
information needed
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locate
the needed information
efficiently
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evaluate the information
and its sources
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incorporate selected
information into their knowledge base
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use information
effectively to accomplish a purpose
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understand economic,
legal, social and cultural issues in the use of information
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access and use information
ethically and legally
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classify, store,
manipulate and redraft information collected or generated
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recognise information
literacy as a prerequisite for lifelong learning
From: Information Literacy
Standards. Canberra: Council of Australian University Librarians, 2001.
Information
Literacy - The Process
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Defining
(What do I really
want to find out)
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What is my purpose?
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What am I expected
to do?
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What do I already
know?
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What questions do I need to ask?
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What do I need to
find out?
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What are the key words and ideas?
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Locating
(Where can I find
the information I need?)
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- What sort of
information
do I need?
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Where do I get this
information from?
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What sources are
best for me?
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Can I use appropriate library technology?
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Selecting
(What information
do I need to use?)
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Which resources will I
use?
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What do the
resources tell me?
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Do they answer my
question?
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Do I have the skills
to extract and use the information?
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How will I record the information I need?
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Organising
(How can I best use
this information?)
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Have I enough
information?
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What do I need to
make a note of?
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Which information is most important?
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How can I organise the information?
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Presenting
(How can I present
this information?)
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What will I do with
the information?
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What method of presentation is best?
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With whom will I share this information?
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Evaluating
(What did I
learn from this?)
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Did I fulfil
my purpose?
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What new skills did I develop?
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Which skills do I need to improve?
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Links for further reading:
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