Information literacy is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information and is the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, learning environments, and education levels. It enables learners to master content, extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and to take greater control of their own learning.

The five core information literacy competencies are the ability to:

identify needed information.
access information effectively & efficiently.
evaluate information.
use information appropriately.
understand information related issues.

Via Elizabeth E Charles, Anne Versonne