What is Information Literacy?
"We envision a Pennsylvania where citizens know how to use online resources and current technology to improve their education, to enhance their job skills, and to fully participate in a digital society."
Information literacy is more than just the ability to determine if presented information is true or false. It's a set of skills that allows you to choose the appropriate resource for the information need at hand, to seek more information based on what you've learned, and to use the information you find effectively.
Library instruction focuses on many kinds of information literacy, including information literacy skills relevant to your major or career, as well as those skills relevant to daily life.
Increasing Information Literacy
Many library resources can help you build and expand your information literacy skills. Information literacy is a lifelong learning process. Check out these resources for a refresher or new ideas to consider.
- Evaluating InformationA library tutorial with the basics of evaluating information.
- Penn State University Libraries Subject GuidesGuides are curated resources that support your major or course of study. Learn more about the information sources that will be important in your degree program and career, and how to use them effectively.
Past Information Literacy Programs
Don't Let Fake News Fool You!
Can you spot fake news? How can you be sure that when you re-post information online, that you don't look the fool by posting misinformation? Come hone your skills by learning how to identify fake news and stop the spread! (Fall 2023)
Misinformation Challenge
How skilled are you at determining real news from fake news, especially when it comes to COVID-19? Take our series of quizzes to see how you stack up and learn some methods for finding out the truth. (Spring 2021)
- Challenge One: Mutating MessagesCan you tell if these social media posts are talking about real events?
- Challenge Two: Inoculation InformationCan you correctly evaluate this information about vaccines?
- Challenge Three: Masking MisinfoMasking guidance has changed over time. What's true and what's misinformation?
- Challenge Four: The COVID of our LivesIn the final challenge, can you determine the real news about COVID's impact on our lives?
So You Want to Learn More about COVID 19
- Program Recording (Fall 2020)In March 2020 our academic lives were thrown into disarray as the United States began to feel the effects of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Since then, we have received conflicting information such as: who is the most susceptible to the virus and the efficacy of mask-wearing in public spaces. Join the STEM Librarian, Andrea Pritt, to explore the recent COVID-19 research, critically think about the nature of the scientific process during pandemics, and how all of this might effect you, your family, and your community. Attendees will have the opportunity to locate the evidence-based research behind a lot of the popular information surrounding COVID-19.