Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Depiction of Health 2008-9058 2 2 2011 09 21 An Overview on the Concept of Information Literacy and Its Skills 34 39 EN Zahra Gholami Vahideh Zarea Gavgani REVIEW This study reviews the literature to elaborate the concept of information literacy, its significance and application in academic and educational systems. Information literacy (IL) is known as a strategic tool for any citizen in knowledge-based societies and systems. Every member of a competitive and information-based system and society needs to be empowered with IL skills. It is not just a concern of a specific group or people. Therefore, this paper is aimed at elaborating the concept of IL in various levels of society, specially the academic systems.