Layering information literacy: A taxonomy of literacies for academic and lifelong learning

The technological advancement and proliferation of information resources has precipitated the increase of information stored in electronic format, providing wider and varied information choices to individuals. Lack of necessary computer competencies and skills are contributing factors in hindering the users from accessing, retrieving, evaluating and selecting relevant information from electronic sources for academic purposes. The inadequacy of literacies such as computer, basic, and media literacies in their individuality makes it imperative for the contemporary literate student to be equipped with skills from multiple layers of literacy that fit together in order to access, use and critically evaluate the information from varied existing sources. We examine the role of information literacy and how different types of literacy concepts and models integrate to promote the effectiveness of academic and lifelong learning. A taxonomy of literacy for academic and lifelong learning based on basic literacy, information literacy, computer literacy, media literacy and visual literacy is proposed.