Information literacy is the ability to access, evaluate, and use information from a variety of sources. This digest defines the information literate person and describes the evolution of the concept. Information literacy is examined in the context of existing practice; and the impact of technology on the storage and dissemination of data,…

This digest discusses the role of the library media specialist. The first section notes the lessons and legacy of "Information Power," the American Library Association's standards for school library media specialists. Technology and opportunity for library media specialists are discussed in the second section, and the third section…

Students today face a daily explosion of information resources and the challenge of using these resources effectively and responsibly. Information literacy instruction (ILI) requires a shift in focus from teaching specific information resources to a set of critical thinking skills involving the use of information. ILI in an academic setting…

Although alternate definitions for information literacy have been developed by educational institutions, professional organizations and individuals, they are likely to stem from the definition offered in the Final Report of the American Library Association (ALA) Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: "to be information literate, a…

This digest is an annotated listing of 50 Internet resources for library media specialists and children's librarians. The resources are organized under the following headings: AskA services; electronic discussion groups; evaluation; Internet basics; keeping current; information literacy; lesson plans; online journals and book reviews; policy;…

The dawn of the electronic age has altered the role of the school librarian: the position is less of a warehouse manager and more of a reference consultant, the emphasis is access to information rather than collection development, and the librarian is an information center manager, specialist, and teacher of information technology. School…

This digest discusses some of the major trends and issues found in a systematic content review of the professional literature of library and information science. Two "megatrends" are identified and discussed: (1) the concern for the impact of technology upon every facet of library work, in academic, school, public, and special libraries;…

The Internet is an international computer network encompassing thousands of smaller interconnected networks. This digest describes various uses of the Internet and its impact on libraries, as well as Internet-related library issues. The Internet applications of electronic mail (E-mail), telnet, and file transfer protocol (FTP) are briefly…