Information literacy development in a small country: A practical proposition?

Abstract

The article reviews aspects of information literacy activity in Scotland focusing on policy development and the extent to which this has been successful. It reviews briefly the work of the Scottish Information Literacy Project (2004-2010) and describes the activity of its successor body, The Right Information, Information Skills for a 21st Century Scotland (2012-to date). A literature review is included to inform performance criteria which can be used to assess the success of the work. The strategy of using Scottish Government and information professional policy documents to inform information literacy policy making is described. Engagement with other professions with an interest in information literacy is found to be essential and the problems identified in engaging with Scottish Government ministers and civil servants are discussed. Although the Right Information has engaged successfully with the information and other professions in Scotland resourcing and the Scottish Government's emphasis on digital literacy at the expense of information literacy has proved to be a problem