HIST 401: Library and Archival Historical Research

Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” [https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/19242/22395]

In 2000, a taskforce for the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) received approval for their five information literacy standards for higher education. Below is a brief summary of them.

An information literate, individual is able to:

• determine the extent of information needed (Standard 1)
• access the needed information effectively and efficiently (Standard 2)
• evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base (Standard 3) 
• use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose (Standard 4) 
• understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally (Standard 5)

Many more details on the standards can be found here [https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/19242/22395]. 

In 2016, the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education was adopted by ACRL.  The six concepts are a flexible framework that can be applied in whatever order is appropriate to any type of discipline.

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual
• Information Creation as a Process
• Information Has Value
• Research as Inquiry
• Scholarship as Conversation
• Searching as Strategic Exploration 

Full details can be found here.