Empowering America's Voters - Information Literacy

Sept. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- Cambridge, MA. - October is National Information Literacy Awareness Month.  In 2009, President Obama issued the first presidential proclamation, acknowledging the critical importance of information literacy to the social and economic welfare of the American people. Knowing how to find, evaluate, and use effectively information from a variety of media and information resources should no longer be taken for granted.  More now than at any other time in American history, voters need to be competent users of information.  What can having Information literacy skills do to help the American voter:

•   improve their productivity by working smarter for America in the global economy;
•   foster a greater awareness of personal responsibility in alleviating healthcare   costs;
•   reduce considerably the growing achievement gap;
•   enhance academic performance in schools, colleges, and universities;
•   support their families in coping better with seemingly endless social and economic challenges;
•   encourage wiser decision making within public and private sectors;
•   strengthen our national security efforts; and,
•   become enlightened and responsive citizens at the local, state, national, and international level.

Nowadays, effective information literacy practice impacts everybody's bottom line!

As early as 1973, then president of the Information Industry Association, Paul G. Zurkowski, recognized that "people trained in the application of information resources to their work can be called information literate... having learned techniques and skills for utilizing a wide range of information tools as well as primary sources in molding information solutions to their problems...those who do not have the ability to mold information to their needs are information illiterate".  In these challenging, economic times, the circus atmosphere swirling around media networks, Congress, and the wide ranging impact of social media itself are illustrious examples of the urgent need for all Americans to sharpen their information literacy abilities.
 
So, during the month of October, the National Forum on Information Literacy is asking all Americans to think twice about the information they use to make personal and professional decisions.  Before making that decision, they should ask themselves – where does the information come from, who produced it, and what does it really mean to their overall well being. By asking these few simple questions, they may be surprised at what they might find.

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. As we move further into the 21st century, information literacy will become the standard-bearer for academic achievement, workforce productivity, competitive advantage, and national security.

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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.