The Seven Pillars of Information Literacy

The initial task of the Advisory Committee on Information Literacy (then the Task Force on Information Skills) was to:

• define what was meant by 'information skills'
• articulate why information skills are important for higher education students
• assess the size and scope of current activity in higher education in the UK and Ireland
• identify principles of good practice in this area

As a result of the committee's work, the "Information skills in higher education: a SCONUL position paper" briefing paper was produced in 1999. An important part of the paper dealt with the Seven Pillars model of Information Literacy, which has since been drawn upon in a number of curriculum developments.

The full text of the briefing paper can be accessed from this page, along with the Seven Pillars of Information Literacy model

Information skills in higher education: a SCONUL position paper.
Prepared by the Information Skills Task Force, on behalf of SCONUL.
December 1999.
Web | PDF

The Seven Pillars of Information Literacy model
Copies of the model available for download and use.

The Seven Headline Skills expanded
An updated explanation of the seven headline skills by Sheila Webber

Related Articles
Articles, papers and reports which have discussed "Information skills in higher education: a SCONUL position paper."

Updated Februsry 2008 by Moira Bent Moira.Bent@ncl.ac.uk.