Information Literacy 2.0: hype or discourse refinement?
| Date | 19 January 2010 |
| Pages | 140-153 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411011016407 |
| Published date | 19 January 2010 |
| Author | Sonja Špiranec,Mihaela Banek Zorica |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
SPECULATIONS IN DOCUMENTATION
Information Literacy 2.0: hype or
discourse refinement?
Sonja S
ˇpiranec and Mihaela Banek Zorica
Department of Information Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the term Information Literacy 2.0 as a subset of
information literacy, to describe its development and significance and give an outline of its underlying
theoretical assumptions.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper first examines the grounds for the possibl e
re-conceptualizations in the field of information literacy and identifies the current developments in
the information universe as the principal drive for perception shifts. Based on a literature review and a
descriptive analysis of contrasting features of library user education, information literacy and
Information literacy 2.0, the paper highlights the main foci of paradigm shifts.
Findings – The paper found that the new meaning and understanding of the central conceptions in
information literacy are shifting the focus of classical information literacy towards Information
literacy 2.0. Many of the aspects of current information literacy practices originate from a print-based
culture, which is incongruent with the transient and hybrid nature of digital environments. These
radically changing environments are causing the appearance of anomalies in the information literacy
paradigm, which could effectively be resolved through the introduction of a sub-concept of information
literacy.
Practical implications – The article specifies the possibilities for putting theoretical
conceptualizations of Information literacy 2.0 into practice by determining the range of shifts in
information literacy activities and identifying how new practices differ from the earlier approaches.
Originality/value – The study attempts to advance the research field of information literacy by
proposing a new outlook on information literacy through the integration of its underlying theoretical
conceptions and practical applications.
Keywords Information,Literacy, Learning, Informationfacilities
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
Information literacy (IL) has entered the discourse of different disciplines and their
respective systems of terminologies, while its practical applications feature as an
important segment of numerous initiatives, projects and strategies worldwide.
Previous to attaining this current significant position IL went through a long-lasting
process of growth in theoretical and applied understanding characterized by numerous
terminological and conceptual contradictions (Shapiro and Hughes, 1996; Snavely and
Cooper, 1997, Pawley, 2003). The analysis of the development of information literacy
and the phenomena that have influenced it shows a multifaceted and multidimensional
nature of its concept. IL developed in response to the issues that were necessitated by
the developments within the information society. Transformations in the field of
information sciences known as user orientation and the emergence of new educational
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
JDOC
66,1
140
Received 12 August 2008
Revised 5 June 2009
Accepted 19 June 2009
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 66 No. 1, 2010
pp. 140-153
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/00220411011016407
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