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Welcome to the WebJunction Illinois home page of the Illinois Center for Information Literacy. Supported by an LSTA grant through funding from the State Library, the Center has been created to facilitate, coordinate and initiate information literacy activities in schools, libraries, non-profit organizations and businesses. Its larger purpose is to help build a culture of information literacy that benefits the citizens of Illinois.

Information Power to the People

Students and citizens are increasingly challenged by the rapidly expanding universe of information available at their finger tips. Teachers and professors frequently cite the inability of students to distinguish relevant and authoritative sources from those with less credibility. They mention the problem of plagiarism as well. Librarians too are constantly working with patrons struggling to articulate their research questions, and to find information, evaluate it and use it effectively through some form of communication.

Information literacy is not merely an academic issue however. It is a life issue for all Illinoisans. These are skills that we use every day with more or less effectiveness. They range from finding health information on the internet, to choosing the best schools for our children, to determining the veracity of information provided by the media, to understanding the complex social issues that shape the future of our state.

With a $58,000 LSTA grant from the Illinois State Library*, ISU's Milner Library intends to explore the feasibility of establishing a Center to facilitate and coordinate statewide initiatives that enhance the ability of students and citizens to access and use information more effectively. The Illinois Center for Information Literacy would function to follow up on pre-existing efforts, provide a catalyst for new initiatives and serve as a general resource for librarians, educators and citizens. Read more...

*Activities originating from The Center are supported by a grant called Information Power to the People: Investigating the Feasibility of an Illinois Center for Information Literacy. Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

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See Also Information Literacy