What is information literacy?

“To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.”

-Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report

The Big 6: Information Problem Solving Model

Step 1: Task Definition
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify Information needed

Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources

Step 3: Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources

Step 4: Use of Information
4.1 Engage (e.g. read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information

Step 5: Synthesis
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information

Step 6: Evaluation
6.1 Judge the result (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)

Next: The Big 6 Skills >