Information Literacy Standards      
  for Student Learning        

for use in conjunction with the New York State Learning Standards

 From: Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning
American Library Association and Association for Educational Communications and Technology
copyright 1998
Reprinted with permission of the American Library Association

Category I: Information Literacy

The student who is information literate:
Standard 1: Accesses information efficiently and effectively, as described by the following indicators:

  1. recognizes the need for information;
  2. recognizes that accurate and comprehensive information is the basis for intelligent decision making;
  3. formulates questions based on information needs;
  4. identifies a variety of potential sources of information;
  5. develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Standard 2: Evaluates information critically and competently, as described by the following indicators:

  1. determines accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness;
  2. distinguishes among fact, point of view, and opinion;
  3. identifies inaccurate and misleading information;
  4. selects information appropriate to the problem or questions at hand.

Standard 3: Uses information effectively and creatively, as described by the following indicators:

  1. organizes information for practical application;
  2. integrates new information into one's own knowledge;
  3. applies information in critical thinking and problem solving;
  4. produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate formats.

Category II: Independent Learning

The student who is an independent learner is information literate and:
Standard 4: Pursues information related to personal interests, as described by the following indicators:

  1. seeks information related to various dimensions of personal well-being, such as career interests, community involvement, health matters and recreational pursuits;

  2. designs, develops, and evaluates information products and solutions related to personal interests.

Standard 5: Appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information, as described by the following indicators:

  1. is a competent and self-motivated reader;

  2. derives meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats;

  3. develops creative products in a variety of formats.

Standard 6: Strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation, as described by the following indicators:

  1. assesses the quality of the process and products of personal information seeking;

  2. devises strategies for revising, improving, and updating self-generated knowledge.

Category III: Social Responsibility

The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and:
Standard 7: Recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society, as described by the following indicators:

  1. seeks information from diverse sources, contexts, disciplines and cultures;

  2. respects the principle of equitable access to information.

Standard 8: Practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology, as described by the following indicators:

  1. respects the principles of intellectual freedom;

  2. respects intellectual property rights;

  3. uses information technology responsibly.

Standard 9: Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information, as described by the following indicators:

  1. shares knowledge and information with others;

  2. respects others' ideas and backgrounds and acknowledges their contributions;

  3. collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify information problems and to seek their solutions;

  4. collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to design, develop, and evaluate information products and solutions.

back to policies & procedures page