As part of its 2022–2026 strategic plan, the Public Library Association (PLA) committed to “support libraries in advancing all literacies and expanding meaningful and relevant access that results in community wellbeing” as part of its Transformation pillar. This commitment is expressed in our extensive work related to digital literacy, early literacy, health literacy, Census data literacy, and to new resources and training supporting information literacy through our nation’s public libraries.
Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. https://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/whitepapers/presidential) To be information literate, then, one needs skills not only in research but in critical thinking.
Super Searchers Program
In 2023, PLA kicked off a new collaboration with Google to provide public library staff with relevant training to boost professional knowledge and easy-to-use tools to increase information literacy skills among library patrons. Building on a 2022 Super Searchers pilot with Google and Public Libraries 2030, PLA is extending the brief and effective training to help equip more busy library staff with tools to help patrons search more efficiently and critically engage online information. The Super Searchers training and toolkit provide resources for Google users to understand the context that surrounds what they find when searching the Web.
Additional Resources
- American Library Association Literacy Clearinghouse
- AASL Standards Framework for Learners (PDF)
- ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education