October is Information Literacy Month



On October 1st, President Barak H. Obama proclaimed October National Information Literacy month.

He said, "Every day, we are inundated with vast amounts of information. A 24-hour news cycle and thousands of global television and radio networks, coupled with an immense array of online resources, have challenged our long-held perceptions of information management. Rather than merely possessing data, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation."

His definition is pretty good. I'd add that Information Literacy includes the skill to recognize an information need, and the ability to use that information ethically! The president went on to say that "We now live in a world where anyone can publish an opinion or perspective, whether true or not, and have that opinion amplified within the information marketplace."

Information literacy is absolutely imperative for an informed citizenry. If you think some of the bloviators on television, radio or online want YOU to be information literate, think again!