ALIA/ASLA policy on information literacy in Australian schools

Joint policy of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA)

Purpose

To describe what is information literacy in the context of an information literate school community.

ALIA objects addressed

• To promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Australians and a thriving culture, economy and democracy.

ASLA objectives addressed

• Establish, review and maintain national standards and guidelines for school library resource services.
• Promote an understanding of the aims, needs and educational significance of school library resource services and teacher librarianship.
• Develop, write and publish materials which will promote the development of school library resource services and teacher librarianship.

Principle

The ability to process and use information effectively is a basic survival skill for those who wish to be successful learners in the 21st century. Learners, who are able to find, analyse, evaluate and ethically use information for a given purpose in a variety of formats are considered information literate.

Statement

Information literate learners are able to access, process, organise, create and present information in a range of ways that make meaning for them and all the construction of personal knowledge. Information skills must be embedded across the school curriculum and explicitly taught in the context of teaching and learning programs. Effective teacher librarians are expert in collaboratively developing and implementing such an approach.

Related documents

Australian Library and Information Association and Australian School Library Association
Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians

Australian Library and Information Association and Australian School Library Association
ALIA/ASLA statement on teacher librarians in Australia

Australian Library and Information Association and Australian School Library Association
ALIA/ASLA statement on library and information services in schools

Australian Library and Information Association
ALIA statement on information literacy for all Australians

Australian School Library Association and Australian Library and Information Association 2001, Learning for the future: developing information services in schools, 2nd ed., Curriculum Corporation, Carlton South.