5 December 1997

Information: too little, too much, too hard to find

How can we remain literate in the information age?
It's not what you know. And it's not who you know either. The most important tool for professionals in the approach of the 21st century is knowing how to know.

Phil Candy, deputy vice-chancellor (Scholarship) at the University of Ballarat is in Canberra Monday 8 December to discuss the importance of information literacy and lifelong learning. Dr Candy, a long-time educator, consultant and education researcher, is the keynote speaker for Information literacy: the professional issue, a joint Australian Library and Information Association and University of South Australia conference.

Professional knowledge in most fields is growing at such a rate that no one can claim that their initial education will prepare them adequately for a lifetime of practice. In fact, says Dr Candy, one of the most vital attributes for any professional in the 21st century will be the ability and willingness to go on learning, both professionally and personally.

Information literacy is central to lifelong learning. The ability to identify an information need, and to locate, evaluate and use information that may appear in a variety of forms is crucial. Many professional associations now recognise that their members must be information literate, and this in turn is influencing universities and other providers of professional education to give explicit attention to the development of information literacy.

During this conference, Dr Candy will discuss how universities and other formal education providers can build information literacy into their programs, and how professional organisations can develop or extend information literacy skills in their practising members.

In this, the age of the 'information revolution', only those professionals who know how to know will flourish.