In our last bulletin, I discussed that due to a number of trends - advances in technology, increased globalization, an aging work force, and the trend towards small businesses - there is an increasing skill gap in the workforce. Further, I pointed out that large companies are playing a diminishing role in filling these skill gaps and that more and more, the responsibility for filling skill needs to be owned by the individual herself/himself.

INFORMATION LITERACY

In the 21st Century, companies are looking for individuals with multiple literacy skills.(1)  In addition to literacy in its traditional interpretation (i.e., reading and writing), employers will look for employees whose literacy is multi-faceted:

o The ability to locate, cycle, interpret, and employ information in charts, graphs, maps and other visual displays;

o The ability to interpret and apply information for a specific purpose (statistical representations and other non-traditional formats);

o The ability understand how meaning is created by analyzing information (i.e., representational literacy), and;

o The ability to use technology and computers to learn (i.e., tool literacy).

THE IMPORTANCE OF POSSESSING INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS

The amount of information on the web has increased in the last five years and will multiply in the next ten years. It is an
easy fix to simply "google" something, take the results of your information search, and draw conclusions from it. Information literacy demands that you are diligent in using any sources - whether they be printed or online. While it is easier to validate written sources, online sources are not so easy. You need to be sure you know who has written the information, that the aims of the site are clear, that the information can be checked, that the site is not outdated, that the information is not biased, and most importantly, that the site offers you other choices to validate their information.

HOW TO BUILD AND DEVELOP INFORMATIONAL SKILLS

Information Literacy skills are not terribly difficult to learn, they just take time. Just as with any other skill, you need to either learn it or brush up on it if you have not used it for a while. In some cases, you will find that the landscape has changed. I know I felt that way when I took a trip to the reference room of the main branch of the New York City Public Library a couple of months ago! You can begin to develop your information literacy skills in three easy steps.

 

The first step you might take is to do a search for "information literacy" on the web. Looking through a few citations, you will get corroborating feedback from experts on how important information literacy really is.

The second step would be to visit a large public library (and perhaps even renew your library card) or a university library system if you are affiliated with them through a continuing education course of studies. You will be astonished at how much more comprehensive the libraries have become. Visit with the reference librarian and ask her/him about what online primary databases you would have access to, how to access them, and where you might go to practice accessing them. Examples of these databases are Business Source Premier, Business Wire News, D & B, Hoovers Online, Investext Plus, Lexis/Nexis, and Value Line.

The third step is to develop a method that works for you, whereby you can combine primary research (that you would undertake by browsing primary databases) and online searching through the internet (following the guidelines established above). And, then, practice, practice, practice.

HOW INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS ARE USED IN TODAY'S WORKPLACE

Employers expect their employees to come to work with information literacy skills. Whether you are asked to find out about a new trend or product that has hit the market, an overview of a competitor's distribution strategy, the number of sales channels carrying your competitors products, the impact an economic cycle has on your industry, the industry best practices for customer relationship management, or the background on a new supplier you are planning to do business with, you need to have a high level of be information literacy. Employers will not pay to teach you how to perform these tasks!

CONCLUSION

Information Literacy is not a 'should have" but rather a "must have" skill for anyone entering today's work force in this, the Information Age. You can take some very concrete, and simple, steps towards becoming more information literate by going to a public library or through your affiliation with a major school library system.