Information literacy

Abstract

Information literacy is a concept which is well established in theory while in practice it is only slowly breaking ground in accordance with the understanding of its significance and the possibilities of its realisation. Based on fundamental works, the characteristics of information literacy, its cognitive foundations and significance for individuals as well as for society, are argumented in the article. The analyzed content of this concept is connected with the content of a librarian’s knowledge and activities. From this derive the tasks of a library and the incentive for designing common general recommendations for an information literacy programme. This could also be used as a starting point for defining the scope and aim of three levels of information literacy in which all the various types of libraries would participate by helping users to master the information process, successfully orient themselves in the information world and find the relevant information they are searching for.