The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) defines information literacy as:
the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.
Similarly, the Chartered Institute of Library Information Professionals (CILIP) provides a more concise definition:
Knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.
It has been demonstrated that, when teachers and librarians work together, students achieve higher levels of literacy, reading, learning, problem solving, and information and technology skills.
UNESCO/IFLA School Library Manifesto, 2000, 'Mission of the School Library' section. http://www.ifla.org/VII/s11/pubs/manifest.htm