 Library Instruction – What is Information Literacy? Here in the library, we talk a lot about information literacy and developing information skills for all members of the K-State community. Information literacy is an individual's ability to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the information. These types of skills aren't just important in academia, but are needed throughout on an individual's lifetime, especially in the age of Google and information overload. We have found that many students and some instructors are coming to the university with very few competencies in this area. They are information illiterate. The primary goals of Library Instruction are to ensure that people can determine the nature and extent of the information they need, are able to access the needed information, are able to critically evaluate that information, and its sources, can use information effectively to accomplish some purpose, and can understand how to use information ethically and legally.