Digital Literacy

Like information literacy, digital literacy requires skills in locating and using information and in critical thinking. Beyond that, however, digital literacy involves knowing digital tools and using them in communicative, collaborative ways through social engagement. ALA’s Digital Literacy Task Force defines digital literacy as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.”

Resources

  • The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)  Digital Media resources
  • ALSC Media Mentorship White Paper: “The paper explores the role of children’s librarians as mentors of digital media and calls on youth service librarians to support families in their intentional, appropriate and positive use of media.”
  • American Libraries digital literacy archive
  • Among the digital literacy resources Public Library Association (PLA) promotes is Digital Learn. The site offers tools for self-guided learning, a network of individuals sharing ideas, best practices, and resources around digital literacy, and a searchable database of free computer training. PLA has added Tools and Resources for Trainers.
  • ALA Washington Office’s District Dispatch also has a collection of blog posts related to government policy and initiatives geared towards digital literacy at Digital Dispatch.
  • Through the implementation of effective collection development policies, as well as classification and cataloging of library materials in accordance with descriptive standards such as Resource Description and Access, technical services and materials selection professionals ensure that patrons have access to quality resources that are relevant to their literacy needs.
  • Since 1957, the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) and its members have served as leaders in the areas of materials acquisition, identification, cataloging, classification, and preservation.
  • Through its Online Learning, ALCTS hosts a series of webinars and web courses that include digital literacy, such as on podcasts and the role that librarians can play. See the division’s YouTube channel for the complete archive of free webinars.