The Public Librarian's Role in 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. -  as defined by the ALA Presidential Committee on Information Literacy's final report (1989).

The term "information literacy" can be overwhelming for most public librarians.  Although the term has been used by the school and academic library world for a number of years, public libraries are just beginning to move into this arena.  Back when most of us were in school, we had "library skills" class with the school librarian and then maybe had some "bibliographic instruction" when we went to high school or college.  However, the internet and information revolution, as well as the Gates Foundation computers, have brought more and more non-library users into our buildings with the expectation that we will be the ones to take them through the waves of information that are inundating them.  Those skills we learned during "library class" just aren’t enough anymore.

Public libraries are perfectly situated and capable to handle the ever-changing information world and help people learn how to find, use and evaluate information. But if we don’t step up and provide this service, who will?  Currently, no other entity – government or private - is as ready to take on this growing need, has the skill-set necessary and can do it as inexpensively as the public library.  It is a short step from taking our one-on-one exchanges with the public and creating a more formal learning environment for our patrons.  Teaching an introduction to the internet or advanced web searching, providing good library web sites as portals to the internet for our customers and offering access a variety of databases are just a few areas in which libraries are already showing the public how to navigate the information jungle.  We need to capitalize on and expand these ideas in order to strengthen the bond that librarians are creating between the public and access to the information they need.

The State Library recognizes this need in our communities and has made Information Literacy one of our goals.