Articulating generative AI information literacy competencies

An ACRL Framework–driven model for academic libraries

Abstract

Responding to the rapid rise of generative AI (GenAI) use in academic research, this project addresses the growing need for GenAI literacy in higher education by articulating a set of core GenAI information literacy (IL) competencies aligned with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (2015). The project drew on a targeted review of emerging GenAI literacy scholarship, mapping identified competencies to the Framework and refining them through iterative synthesis supported by ChatGPT-assisted prompting and human evaluation. Human oversight and disciplinary judgment remained central throughout the process. The resulting ACRL-aligned competency model situates GenAI literacy within established IL principles, providing a foundation for instruction, consultations, and campus-wide GenAI literacy initiatives. The article also discusses early implementations of the competencies at Georgetown University through a train-the-trainer initiative, course-integrated instruction, and workshops.