The NJ State Library (NJSL), in collaboration with the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, LibraryLinkNJ: the New Jersey Library Cooperative, and the New Jersey Department of Education, is supporting the implementation of New Jersey’s emerging information literacy student learning standards.
Contact
Jen Nelson, State Librarian, statelibrarian@njstatelib.org
Jen Brenner, Deputy State Librarian, jbrenner@njstatelib.org
Sharon Rawlins, Project Manager, youthservices@njstatelib.org
The Four Pillars of Information Literacy in New Jersey
These recorded sessions explore the four pillars of information literacy – information use, identification and evaluation, need, and creation and distribution. A fifth session is an informal introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Information Literacy. All were recorded in Fall 2026, prior to the release of the draft standards. The content is based on the information provided by the NJ Department of Education’s through its Standards Transparency and Mastery Platform (STAMP).
- Session 1 – October 8, 2025 – Information Need Webinar Recording
- Session 2 – October 15, 2025 – Information Identification and Evaluation Recording
- Session 3 – October 22, 2025 – Information Use Recording
- Session 4 – October 29, 2025 – Information Creation and Recording
- Session 5- December 2, 2025 – Artificial Intelligence and Information Literacy
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Join Jen Nelson, Linda Braun and Ang Coxen at the NJLA/NJASL Conference for a special two hour session on Wednesday February 18 from 10:30 to 12:30. This session will offer 2 professional development hours.
Jen Nelson, Linda Braun and Ang Coxen are offering an all-day Information Literacy Train -the- Trainer session at the Monroe Public Library on Saturday March 7, 2026 from 9:30 until 4:00. There is no charge and lunch will be provided. Please register no later than February 26, 2026.
Additional virtual sessions will be held in Spring and Summer 2026.
Please contact Jen Nelson statelibrarian@njstatelib.org with questions about these opportunities.
Join the Community of Practice (CoP) to Discuss Teaching Information Literacy in New Jersey
The New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) require that information literacy be taught to K-12 students across all grade levels. Public and academic libraries will be instrumental in ensuring that all young people have access to resources and knowledge to help support the learning of information literacy.
Anyone who works with youth in school, public or academic libraries is invited to register to join the NJ State Library sponsored monthly virtual Community of Practice (CoP) meet ups. You will engage with colleagues by sharing information and gaining knowledge of information literacy that you can use with youth in your libraries.
The CoP meet ups are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 4:00 – 5:00 pm via Microsoft Teams.
Earn one hour of professional development for each CoP meet up you attend.
Meeting dates and registration links:
- January 13, 2026. Register for meet up here
- February 10, 2026. Register for meet up here
- March 10, 2026. Register for meet up here
- April 14, 2026. Register for meet up here
- May 12, 2026. Register for meet up here
- June 9, 2026. Register for meet up here
Please contact Sharon Rawlins youthservices@njstatelib.org with any questions about the Information Literacy Community of Practice.
Helpful Resources
- NJ State Library Awarded Grant to Help Prepare NJ Schools and Libraries for Upcoming Information Literacy Learning Standards – Press Release
- Grant Narrative Link (PDF)
- Teaching Information Literacy – Theory of Change (Accessible PDF)
- Teaching Information Literacy – Theory of Change (PDF)
Grant Information
This project is made possible, in whole or in part, by an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grant for Libraries: Teaching Information Literacy, LG-255048-OLS-23.
