German libraries at the starting line for the new task of teaching information literacy

Abstract

Initiatives by German librarians on taking on board educational work in the field of information literacy or “Informationskomptenz” now seem to be successful. Although a lot of unfavorable organizational and political conditions still exist and much remains to be done, there are now many indicators showing that the mediation of information literacy will be institutionalized within the education system and the everyday work of librarians. In the last ten years of user education work, a lot of methodological experience has been gained and promising pedagogical concepts have been developed, influenced by Anglo‐American concepts of information literacy. However, a great disadvantage for the development of these concepts and for their evaluation is the absence of any central institution capable of supporting this particular aspect of libraries’ work.