This Framework was built around six frames, each consisting of a concept central to information literacy and anchored in the threshold concepts, which are those ideas in any discipline that are essential portals to ways of thinking and practicing in that discipline. Each frame prompts questions about what learners will need to know, experience, and do to demonstrate their increased understanding as they progress from novice to expert in the scholarly journey and as information literate individuals.
Published in 2015 by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the Framework updates the five standards and 22 performance indicators of the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education with six frames. Each of the frames includes its own set of knowledge practices and dispositions.
Examples of Threshold Concepts:
For more information, please consult the ACRL Framework.
The Framework and the Standards address different models of learning, with the Framework addressing conceptual models and the Standards representing a skills-based approach. While the Framework is a more recent expression of best practices regarding information literacy, the Standards remain a well-tested and useful resource that includes a thorough set of information literacy learning outcomes.