Meet Barkley, Secret Service Dog, the National Forum on Information Literacy's new honorary mascot.

Oct. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- National Forum on Information Literacy has a new honorary mascot, Barkley, Secret Service Dog to promote October as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. The Barkley, Secret Service Dog, a children's chapter book series, is the creation of H.K. Gilbert and Co-creator, Misty Taggart. Originally inspired by her daughter, Ms Gilbert created this engaging series to enhance the love for learning within all types of family units.  Barkley's motto is "This secret service dog practices information literacy, that's why Barkley is a super sleuth!"  Like Barkley, young children should practice information literacy throughout all of their educational endeavors.  Learning how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively to solve problems and make decisions should begin as early as kindergarten. Building a strong, information and digital literacy foundation is essential for competing in today's global economy and in the decades ahead.

Barkley, Secret Service Dog, is a lovable basset hound, proud of his role as a secret service dog in the White House.  The following is his guide for success in carrying out his secret service duties:  "Your typical secret service agent is loyal and faithful...so am I. Secret service agents always ask questions...that's how I start each investigation. Agents always gather information – I follow my clues, check out my resources. It never pays to be a bad guy – With my trusty Gizmo Gear, I always catch 'em."

Barkley's Information Literacy Tips

•   Ask questions - Who, What, Where, Why, and How
•   Follow the clues - Check out my resources
•   Solve the crime – Always report to my handler, Agent Knox

"The above tips help me to be the best secret service dog patrolling the corridors and grounds of the White House today!"

The National Forum on Information Literacy is pleased to have Barkley join us in our campaign to promote National Information Literacy Awareness month. We look forward to working with Barkley, Ms. Gilbert, and Ms. Taggart in spreading the word - information literacy skills are essential to achieving lifelong academic, professional, civic and personal success - across all generations. For Barkley's bio, visit www.Barkley-chapterbooks.com

Established in 1989 by the American Library Association, the National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL) has evolved into one of the pre-eminent advocacy, non-profit organizations dedicated to mainstreaming information and digital literacy practice at home and abroad. Both information and digital literacy are vital to our state and nation’s long term social cohesion, economic prosperity, and national security.

Show your support for National Information Literacy Awareness Month...join our badge campaign.  For more information, visit http://infolit.org/national-information-literacy-awarenes...

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The National Forum on Information Literacy has evolved into one of the pre-eminent advocacy organizations dedicated to mainstreaming information literacy competencies and practice in the U.S. and worldwide.