The need for literacy programs that focus on critical information literacy
Since the emergence of Google, many scholars around the globe today are giving information literacy little or no intention. Many have been carried away by the ease of getting information online, that Google has brought along. This, with other factors, has made most libraries deserted and books left to the librarians to keep. Critical information literacy can basically be termed as the capability of critically evaluating the social and human strengths of human beings, including their intellectual limits, potentials, and the benefits of information technologies. Its need is inevitable as it helps a person recognize a void in information, and be in a position to locate, analyze and utilize the information effectively.
Is the library a support agency or the basic source for information?
In as much as some quarters may try to label the meaning of the word library as just a mere support agency, the truth is that it is more than that. Literacy programs evidently exist in libraries. Libraries are part of our lives, and offer opportunities for all. They have information that is affordable, accessible, and available for all who have the desire to learn. With the presence of librarians, who are the ultimate search engines, all the information you are looking for, ranging from videos, books and websites, is easily obtained. By making sure that everyone has all the skills and resources that are needful to him/her, the information gap is closed and so, the expertise provides more than facts (Riedling, 2007). Information literacy skills that are taught by librarians are important to students in their jobs and lives, and this makes the task of visiting a library for students an inevitable one. This fact clearly shows that the library is not just a support agency, but also a very critical source in the quest for information.
Agencies that would effectively push for information literacy
The agencies that would effectively push for information literacy in community would be the schools themselves. Through school programs, the population that is in need of these programs would be reached easily, hence the realization of an information literate society. The students on the other hand are the pivotal population that ought to be the greatest beneficiaries of these programs, since they are the future driving force of the economy and hence there is a dire need to empower them early.
New literacies
In an information literate society, there are new areas where students need instructions to effectively fit in the society. This is because the world is changing and new technologies are emerging almost every day. Some of the literacy areas where added information needs to be given include ICT literacy, digital literacy, and new media literacy (Tyner, 1998). The new technologies that come in these areas ought to be introduced to the students so that they can be in line with the changing technologies.
The synopsis of net generation
I totally agree with the synopsis of Dr Marlene Asselin & Ray Doiron about the net generation. The modern world has been carried away by the net and the source of knowledge for many people in the modern world is the net. This is because information nowadays is just a click away, hence the preference of PCs, compared to visiting libraries.
The three basic literacy skills in the global world today
The three basic literacy skills in the present world include the ability to draft a well-structured communication in writing, and the knowledge of basic mathematic concepts that can be applied in everyday life. This makes communication easier, and also enables one to make well informed decisions regarding various life issues.
References
Riedling, A. M. (2007). An educator’s guide to information literacy. Education Guide, 14 (1), 10-15.
Tyner, K. R. (1998). Literacy in a digital world. Rochester, NY: Lawyers Cooperative Publishing.