The article examines the essence of the concept of "information competence" and its place in the process of professional training of future specialists in specialties 015 «Professional education», 029 «Information, library and archival work». After analyzing the works of domestic and foreign scientists, it was found that information competence is understood as a set of competencies that allow effective use of information technologies in working with information in both printed and electronic form. It is emphasized that an important factor in the formation of information and communication competence and ensuring the success of the professional activity of the future specialist is the formed informational culture of the individual, which includes the culture of knowledge of optimal ways of behaviour with signs, data, information, knowledge of mechanisms for improving technical means of production, storage and transmission of information, skills work with it and distribute it. The components of information competence were studied from the point of view of American and domestic scientists. In the course of the research, it was found that they generally have common characteristics. Thus, American scientists see the following components of information competence: instrumental, resource, social-structural, research and publication literacy. Domestic scientists single out the following components: informational, computer-technological, and procedural-activity component. The Standards of Higher Education of Ukraine for specialties 015 «Professional Education» and 029 «Information, Library and Archive Affairs»" of the first (bachelor's) level were analyzed and their features were determined. It was found that in the process of professional training of future specialists, an important place is occupied by the block of computer disciplines and disciplines of the information and communication cycle. It is also advisable to use professionally oriented tasks in the educational process, in the course of which the student not only acquires new abilities and skills in the discipline, but also acquires professional competencies necessary for further professional activity

information competence, professional training of future specialists, «professional education», «information, library and archival work»