In this section you will find practical information and resources to develop information literacy skills in school, in partnership with school libraries, schools library services and public libraries. Useful links to guides and toolkits are available from the Enjoying Reading information literacy links section.

Why students need information literacy skills

Information literacy is a skill needed by everyone to function effectively in the information society. Students need to use a wide range of information sources, from the internet, books, other people, television, newspapers and magazines etc. It is important that they develop the skills to evaluate the quality and relevance of information as they learn to become more independent and successful learners. It is therefore essential that Information Literacy is developed from an early age.

In their report Good School Libraries Making a Difference to Learning, (March 2006) Ofsted noted that ‘the quality of pupils’ information literacy skills was often unsatisfactory. Many pupils struggled to locate and to make use of information. The most effective schools had put in place systematic programmes for teaching these skills.’ They recommended that schools should ‘develop the quality and coherence of programmes for teaching information literacy to provide better continuity, challenge and progression in pupils’ learning’ and ‘consider ways to promote pupils’ independent study by more effective use of the library’.

What information literacy includes

Information literacy requires primary and secondary school students to have an understanding of:

a need for information
the resources available
how to find information
the need to evaluate results
how to work with or exploit results
ethics and responsibility of use
how to communicate or share your findings
how to manage your findings

How libraries support information literacy

Public libraries, school libraries and schools library services are all skilled in supporting information literacy skills in and outside school, for example through:

study skills classes in the school library
Schools Library Service resources and INSET training for schools
homework clubs and study support in the public library

The Enjoying Reading information literacy links section can direct you to information literacy websites, toolkits and ideas.

The School Library Association has mapped information literacy against each curriculum key stage to provide a starting point for teachers and librarians who are keen to make full use of their own school library and of visits to their local public library.

Information literacy and curriculum skills maps:

Information Literacy and the Key Stage 1 Curriculum (pdf, 65kb)
Information Literacy and the Key Stage 2 Curriculum (pdf, 77kb)
Information Literacy and the Key Stage 3 Curriculum (pdf, 101kb)
Information Literacy and the Key Stage 4 Curriculum (pdf, 78kb)

Information literacy in primary schools

The School Library Association has developed information and activities to support Primary schools in developing Information Literacy :

What is Information Literacy? (pdf, 41kb)
Information Literacy Activities for Primary Schools (pdf, 63kb)