Abstract

Author(s): Swapna G. , B.S. Biradar

Information literacy is considered as the crucial skill of the 21st Century in pursuit of knowledge. It is the ability to recognizing when information is needed and being able to efficiently locate, accurately evaluate, legally and ethically use and also clearly communicate information in various formats. The purpose of this paper is to investigate information literacy skills of the Science Post-Graduate students studying in Kuvempu University and Davanagere University of Karnataka State. The survey method is used to conduct the study. A structured questionnaire with 102 questions to measure 102 variables is used to collect the data. The major findings of the study are that majority (92.5%) of the students are skilled to define, develop and revise the information need on a topic, 83.6% identify the different types, formats and 80.2% identify purpose and target audience of information sources and 97.4% understand the organization and production of universe of knowledge. An average 74.1% of students are skilled to identity and use different information retrieval tools, 62.9% evaluate the information sources available both print and electronic formats and 68.1% able to determine the cost and benefit of acquiring information sources effectively; 51.7%of students are skilled to construct and use different information search strategies; 56.9% able to summarize, synthesize and validate the gathered information; 48.3% plan, develop and communicate the information product or performance, 45.7% able to use information ethically and legally and 36.2% able to acknowledge and document consulted information sources properly. On the basis of the findings, some suggestions have been put forward to improve the information literacy skills of the students.