Adopted May 13, 2003

Definition:  Information literacy is an intellectual framework for recognizing information needs and finding, evaluating, and using information in an ethical manner.

Areas of Competency:

            Recognize information needs
            Find and retrieve information
            Evaluate and use information
            Understand the social and ethical issues surrounding the use of information

Competency 1:  Recognize information needs

Outcomes include:

1. Develop a researchable topic with a manageable focus.
2. Explore general information sources to increase familiarity with the topic.
3. Identify key concepts and terms that describe the information need.
4. Recognize the value and differences of varied types and formats of information (popular vs. scholarly, current vs. historical, primary vs. secondary, print vs. electronic).
5. Identify the purpose and audience of potential sources.
6. Define a plan and timeline for acquiring information.

Outcomes include:

1. Construct an effective search query using appropriate keywords, subject headings, and Boolean operators.
2. Use various search systems (e.g. library catalog, research databases, and the Internet) to retrieve information in a variety of formats.
3. Obtains various sources, including books, periodical articles, and online documents.
4. Use specialized services to retrieve information (e.g. interlibrary loan and community resources).

Competency 3:  Evaluate and use information

Outcomes include:

1. Analyze information for reliability, accuracy, authority, objectivity, and timeliness.
2. Determine whether to incorporate or reject viewpoints as evidence for the topic.
3. Integrate information, including quotations and paraphrasing, as appropriate, to support the purposes of the product or performance.
4. Present information in a medium or format that best supports the purposes of the product or performance and the intended audience.

Competency 4:  Understand the social and ethical issues surrounding the use of information

Outcomes include:

1. Identify issues related to privacy and security in the online environment
2. Identify issues related to censorship and freedom of speech
3. Comply with laws and policies on access to information resources (i.e. fair use of copyrighted material, acceptable use policies)
4. Recognize intellectual property and avoid plagiarism
5. Select an appropriate documentation style and use it consistently to cite sources (i.e. MLA, APA)