Skip to Main Content

Information Literacy and Instruction

What is Information Literacy?

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) defines Information Literacy as the ability to "recognize when information is needed and [to] have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." The Librarians at The Citadel are guided by the standards and framework of the ACRL.
Read more about Information Literacy from the ACRL's Web site.

Why is Information Literacy important?

Professors and librarians know the advantages and disadvantages of having an overabundance of information available at our fingertips at all times, but do our students? To determine the reliability of information, scholars must:

- know what information they are seeking
- know how the information is organized
- determine the best sources for the information
- evaluate the sources
- share the information

Many students believe that a simple Google search or research in Wikipedia is acceptable in college courses. As librarians, we strive to teach students the skills to evaluate and effectively use information -- this is the goal of our information literacy sessions. To help students understand how to search properly for information and how to determine the most appropriate sources, librarians conduct classes for all levels (undergraduate and graduate) tailored to a specific assignment or generalized for a more comprehensive session. Please contact us to schedule one.