The use of a practice perspective in the analysis of information literacy represents a shift in attention towards the enactment of information literacy as a social practice, and away from the information skills approach that has dominated information literacy research and education. The sociocultural perspective that underpins a practice-oriented approach highlights the role of practice and co-participation of the community in shaping the production, reproduction and circulation of knowledge, including knowledge about the appropriateness of information skills in relation to the context in which the skills are practised. This emerging view contrasts with the conventional approach to information literacy that has focused on the information skills of individuals as something that can be learned and transferred independently of context. This paper explores two questions: what is information literacy and, how does it happen? It then goes on to identify the implications of this approach for librarians and researchers.