Improving the public's information literacy requires co-operation with many different partners, said Ms Sim Ann, senior parliamentary secretary for communications and information, on Thursday morning. She was speaking at the launch of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Satellite Meeting on Information Literacy and Reference Services, a discussion session which is part of a larger library conference being held here.

The Internet age has been hugely beneficial, but also raised questions about how to rate the credibility and authenticity of sources, said Ms Sim. "Hence, it is important to equip our people, especially the next generation, with the skills to be discerning users of information."

To that end, the National Library Board works closely with the Education Ministry to teach info-literacy through the school curriculum for students aged nine to 18. More than 2,000 teachers have been trained to teach this since the programme began last year.

Apart from equipping the young, info-literacy skills should also be shared with the general public, said Ms Sim. The National Library Board also conducts info-literacy talks for local community self-help groups such as Sinda, the Chinese Development Assistance Council and Mendaki.