According to the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, “Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.”*

The instruction program at the MSU Library exists to teach information literacy to students, faculty, and staff and is designed to develop the ability to independently identify, select, analyze, and evaluate information for any purpose and use that information ethically.

Serving the entire study body, the instruction program is fluid, evolving to meet student needs as technology modifies the way information is accessed, as curricular and administrative needs change, and as a result of program evaluation. The instruction program facilitates access to the vast resources available to the university, fosters a sense of independence and responsibility, and encourages a collaborative relationship between librarians and other teaching faculty. The program teaches library users needed information research methods and skills through point-of-use, course-related, web-based, and credit course instruction and other approaches, thus supporting the overall educational mission of Montana State University.

* Association of College and Research Libraries. (2016). Framework for information literacy for higher education. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework