User education and forms of information literacy education and training at the universities in Slovenia

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn 1989, the American Library Association published the well-known Final Report of the Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Since then, the information-developed world has seen numerous activities for upgrading information literacy at all levels of education, in the economy and in everyday life. Efficient use of knowledge in society is strongly emphasized and, linked to that, the importance of education and training of information users, as well as the upgrading of information literacy, especially in the context of higher education. Information literacy is increasingly recognized as a basic skill in the process of learning and adapting to the changing living and working environment of today’s information society. Students face dilemmas in the selection of information resources and challenges for their efficient and responsible use on a daily basis. Academic libraries respond to this challenge by offering different information literacy programmes. This paper presents the findings of a pilot survey on education and training of users of library information services, conducted in September 2004, and some forms of information literacy programmes carried out by the academic libraries at the Slovenian Universities. It also proposes some approaches towards the development of information literacy in all segments of Slovenian society.