Obama touts “literacy awareness”
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- October
- 2
President Barack Obama has had his hand in many issues of late — from healthcare reform to the war in Afghanistan, from corporate bailouts to trying to host the 2016 Olympics. Now, he is emphasizing that American need to have the skills to effectively navigate the Information Age.
Translation of this: Libraries are essential to all Americans and their communities. Americans are seeking out information in printed materials and on the web. First, they need help to find resources, and second, they need help to evaluate what they have uncovered. The first professional to call on this journey is the librarian. Communities in our Lower Hudson Valley have a wide variety of public libraries with open doors.
The American Library Association (ALA) is quite pleased with the president’s newest message. Here is an excerpt from today’s announcement from the Chicago-based library association:
“Yesterday, the president issued a statement proclaiming October 2009 as National Information Literacy Awareness Month and calling “upon the people of the United States to recognize the important role information plays in our daily lives, and appreciate the need for a greater understanding of its impact.
“The president’s statement also makes the key point that “though we may know how to find the information we need, we must also know how to evaluate it.
“’In libraries across the country, librarians are helping the public achieve this goal,’” ALA President Camila Alire said. “During this month of awareness, ALA encourages more Americans to visit their local libraries to take full advantage of the services they provide to help the public develop strong information literacy skills.
“Alire also said robust broadband is the critical underlying infrastructure needed to effectively navigate the Information Age. ALA commends the president on the $7.2 billion for broadband included in the stimulus and specific inclusion of libraries (public computer centers) as key hubs for information literacy.”
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 3:03 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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