Fostering citizen Information Literacy Essay Example for Free

facts of flavor citizen Information Literacy EssayFor social and economic cultures in a coarse there has to be a good discipline system (IFLA 2003). For an empowered nation any the citizens should impart an easy rag to breeding most especi every(prenominal)y the developing nations. This will make the citizens make decisions easily indeed develop the country. Libraries should be well equipped and structured with programs that will enhance education flow amongst the citizens (Chagari 2005). Libraries should therefore be employ to transform nations by providing for their breeding inevitably.Information literacy is the process by which culture potentiometer be extracted from conf utilisationd sources, analyzed and utilize correctly for decision devising. This is the main delegation to be achieved in the entropy suppurate (Australian program library and Information Association 2001). Current fellowship literacy is a necessity in the societies. Opportunities be availed in the modern societies whether heathenish or educational requires citizens to be selective information literate (Drotner 2005). Information literacy will be a motivation factor to m any people to acquire sockledge in pursuing their studies through and through out their lives hence personal empowerment (Chagari 2005).Fostering citizen Information Literacy According to Chagari (2005), world libraries move over play a very important role in nurseing information literacy amongst the citizens. worldly concern libraries keep back actively engaged in bighearted information base services to citizens that make no adit to the undeniable information. All the disadvantaged groups or individuals befool been identified and allone including the sick, disabled, unemployed or low income earners has access to information without discrimination. Public libraries bring in patroned in nurturing information literacy in many ways.These included through instructing the user s. Tutorials have been make to swear out train the subroutine subroutine depository library users on how to access the indispensable information and use it. There are printed materials in many general libraries to guide the users on how to access the required information (Chagari 2005). These handouts enhance study and usage of such facilities. Librarians shadower too provide reference materials to the library users. The librarians may identify true area and show the learners how to carryout a search in that area thereby lessening their work. The areas chosen may be on specific research areas for exampleThe users may be showed how to use references on hand(predicate) in written materials, how to access online materials using online interactive models. For instance the virtual reference desks connected to internet. Interactive databases can be utilize to benefactor in decision making. All these methods will enhance encyclopaedism as a result of improved access to infor mation (Chagari 2005). Public libraries have tugd collaborations amongst various library users and researchers. with the creation library usage, a teacher learner partnership is most likely to be make.Librarians have to interact with other researchers based on different fields to get the relevant information close the information they have. Through this collaboration information literacy is enhanced (Chagari 2005). Both governmental and non governmental organizations have partnered to abet gather information about a particular problem or issue in the organization. This has to a fault been observed through local associates and writers dealing with literature. Promotions and marketing have been through by the macrocosm libraries to bring to pass sensation amongst the citizens about information literacy.This is to go steady that the citizens requirements are met. To ensure every citizen is aware of such services, creation libraries have use electronic, printed and vocal cha t means to create awareness. Internet, news cover and televisions have been employ to help mobilize such information. Information literacy awareness has been popularized in many countries hence an awareness to the citizens (Chagari 2005). There have been posters or bill boards to help distribute materials about information literacy, training programs, talks, exhibitions and meetings.All these are aimed at creating awareness to the populace to encourage citizens to take part in information literacy programs. There has online library sites created to allow for online access of the library information. It may at times require face to face meetings to negotiate on the sub judice requirements between the local and governmental organizations. Public libraries have made it contingent to allow for the arrangement of materials depending on hithertots hence to attract people (Libraries for alivenesslong Literacy 2004). Revenues have been collected from such services.The revenue collect ed can be employ in developing the systems to be more efficient to the users (Chagari 2005). Suggestions have been made to help support certain groups for instance the women groups to make them calculator literate (Kargbo 2004). Public libraries have suggested for both(prenominal) public and private bodies to support adult trainings on areas such as sanitation, nutrition, health, consumer rights, precaution of food, water, income amongst others (Chagari 2005). These are areas that require public interests to develop a country hence a way to involve many citizens.Such training promotes empowerment hence citizenship. Public libraries have come up with the youth training programs. The libraries provide for the youths pauperizations and hence empower them to meet their goals. Information literacy institutions have been established. There have been associations formed between colleges and research libraries to help develop library attendants. This ensures that the librarians can ass ess well and ensure improvements in the information literacy programmes unattached (Chagari 2005). Most undergraduate programs have been advanced to include the information literacy programs.To nurture information literacy amongst citizens, there has to be public libraries in the countries. Through the libraries citizens will get access to information easily and withal bosom the new engineering science of acquiring skills. Government should ensure a global access to information and communication materials or devices (Lough 2002). The only way that societies can ensure active participations in cultural, social, political and economic development is through the digital divide (Bennett 2001). Technology is very fundamental for citizenship in the modern society (BECTA b 2001).There has been an increased use of technology amongst the societies ( residence Office 2001b). Computer usage has been introduced in most homes, schools, offices and hence an increased access to information (Ho me Office 2001a). Countries have introduced computers in their libraries. This is in redact to provide make up access to information and enhance digital information access (Serbia 2004). Digital information access in the public libraries will promote information literacy and at the same time provide an extended teaching opportunity to the citizens.IFLA as the international body that represents the interests of library users and information service providers requires an equal access to information amongst the citizens. According to Serbia (2004), there are policies and rules that have been formed to ensure standards in public libraries. The standards are based on services as follows purposes and roles, financial and legal structures, customer or user satisfaction, development strategies, attendants qualifications and the management and marketing.All public libraries have to meet quality services based. All public libraries have to have their mission stated somewhere to show the ci tizens the services they provide. These may include free access to information communication technology to all irrespective of the age to advance and support information literacy. There has been speech pattern from governments worldwide on corporate responsibility in developing our nations. A publication has been made on information literacy to promote citizenship empowerment by the UNESCO (Correia 2002).The document was aimed at assessing the policies that govern literature study and to assign a way forward to ensure information literacy programmes are implemented in all countries worldwide. In developing countries there is a manage of information available to the citizens. This mass information requires a lot of management to make more useful to the citizens. Librarians have been trained and employed to aid the public library users in accessing such information efficiently (Qvortrup 2007).To promote information literacy, citizens are therefore required to have the basic knowle dge to find the required information and use it appropriately on their own. Public libraries have transformed societies in many ways. This is because the libraries have broadened their roles in the societies not only to benefit everyone but also to empower citizens through equitable access to information (Konera 2008 Stipanov 2005 Howley 2004). According to collection Development Policy (2003), for public libraries to foster information literacy for the well being of the citizens there has to high standards of integrity and services adopted.The librarians should learn how to interact well with the information systems and at the same time how to take good care of the citizens as learners. The librarians should foster intellectual freedom to facilitate information flow and decision making. The librarians should also respect intellectual holding hence exercise their power or responsibility on their duty. Clients rights should always be protected giving them access to the required inf ormation always. The librarians should be sensitive to the citizens requirements or suggestions to ensure all their needs are catered for adequately. Supporting Citizen Information LiteracyPublic libraries have supported information literacy in many ways. Public libraries use computer systems to store records of information available in the libraries. According to Chagari (2005), computer and networking devices have facilitated learning during the programs create for information literacy. Through multimedia materials the learners participation was enhanced. Coaxial origins have popularized in many countries hence apply in many libraries to reach many users through networking. Networking is very cost effective especially when used to access people that are geographically away from each other.Through using the coaxial cables both rural and urban residents can be reached. Information access can also be achieved any where provided you are within the network. The training programs can be video taped and telecasted to targeted groups anywhere within the country (Chagari 2005). With both entertainment and educational opportunities provided by the computerized programs citizens can be easily attracted and motivated to acquire the required information. Mass media communication has been used to broadcast the information literacy programs. Radios, televisions and newspapers can be easily accessed by the volume in many countries.These can be used as tools to sensitize people on the need for information literacy. Librarians have dealt with the context based programs to help them identify the areas of importance to most users for instance political, social, cultural and economic. This was based on the fact that to optimize participation from the citizens their areas of interest must be tackled (Chagari 2005). This encourages citizens to strive for the outmatch in life. The librarians are therefore supposed to ensure every citizen is aware of such services. According t o Serbia (2004), communities are different depending with the nation.The requirements of such communities will be different depending on their cultural and social differences. Structures and systems to be devised in the public libraries will therefore be different (BECTA b 2001). Each public library in each country should therefore have their own vision and mission to state their service objectives. The mission statement will help address the individual needs of the public library users. This will also show the technology to be put in place. Opinion on Public Library homework for fostering and supporting citizen information LiteracyAccording to UNESCO public library manifesto (1994), public libraries had their mission since 1994 (Forsyth 2005). Amongst their missions was to ensure equal and reliable access to information for all citizens. It follows that public libraries started emphasizing on information literacy from that time. Institutions were formed to facilitate information l iteracy. Public libraries came up with policies to ensure its services are free of charge and available to every citizen. Public libraries opted for a nation wide network to facilitate researches and information sharing globally (Hancock 2004).All these were to be funded and hence implemented in all libraries. In this sense, I think public libraries were alert to ensure equal access to information by citizens. Public libraries have developed programs to help attract, train and develop different members of the societies (Chagari 2005). I think this is a sign of forwardness and they still fate to involve more and more. Public libraries have trained their staff to facilitate their ability to train the library users, manage the information in the libraries and collaborate with other people to ensure learning. There is increased take of management in many libraries.Information access has been enhanced for instance the librarians have arranged the information depending on the events o r certain topics and authors for easy access. In my own opinion, public libraries have been well disposed(p) to nurture and support information literacy in societies. This is because other than the traditional information sources, libraries have embarked on technology use allowing the citizens to get access to information from various sources. This ensures increased availability of information to the citizens. Public libraries have availed information in video or disc tapes, portable disks.Information has also been simulated and enter to help in demonstrations where human beings are likely to be exposed to high risks (Chagari 2005). According to potty (2002), a library should be able to provide the following services to the users or citizens. Similarly, a library is a place to provide the citizens with information, informing and helping them in making decisions (Centre for Citizenship Studies in Education 2002). I think public libraries should therefore keep the citizens up to dat e with the information about their daily life and provide them with the adaptive features.Public libraries have provided all these services hence a sign of preparedness to create awareness to promote citizenship. It is my opinion that public libraries have been well prepared to support and promote information literacy amongst citizens. With the advancement of technology this was going to be easily achieved. Public libraries have embraced technology making all citizens computer literate hence bridging the gap between the digital divide. This shows how determined public libraries are to ensure every citizen has access to the required information as a sign of empowerment.Public Libraries have come up with projects that promote sharing, support and researches through organized meetings, conferences, forming partnerships (John 2002). I think this is in order to facilitate quality training, gather the required information and to reach as many citizens as possible Public libraries have eve n cooperated with other organizations to lend information materials, purchase jointly or even achieve joint storage facilities hence share the costs. This is a sign of preparedness. The libraries are ready to help citizens acquire the required information at all costs.According to Bundy (2003), there was a research done in 2002 to help find out the educational requirements of international students. The research was aimed at identifying the difficulties experienced by the students in access information. Information is power and hence acquisition of the right information by every citizen is a sign of empowerment. I think, public libraries therefore wanted to ensure everyone has access to the right information everywhere. In this sense the libraries prepared well to provide for everyone and hence an equal chance to meet their goals as individuals.I have a strong opinion that public libraries have been well prepared to foster and support information literacy to citizens. Information is a democratic tool and hence can be used to achieve democracy. Information alone may not guarantee democracy one has to struggle to know how to use it well in decision making (Bundy 2003). This calls for information literacy. Public libraries have been on the preliminary line to sensitize all citizens on various issues that affect our societies. Through public libraries various groups in our societies have been trained and informed about cultural, political and economic factors that affect them.I think public libraries have prepared well for information literacy amongst citizens. Since the emergence of technology, there came a need for information literacy. Public libraries formed institutions like field Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL). Such institutions have been used by many countries to ensure their citizens get access to information or to be information literate (Bruce 2002). NFIL has been used by many countries to solve the library issues to foster information literacy i n our institutions (Durrance 2005).I think that all the countries that participated in NFIL wanted to ensure non-discriminative access to information by all citizens hence empower all to build our nations Conclusion Library Information literacy is a process of acquiring access to information, retrieving it and manipulating it to be used in decision making. In most countries worldwide citizens are accessed to basic information only. This is not nice to empower the citizens and promote citizenship. There is therefore need to train people on ways of getting easy access to the required information (Bawden et al 2002).With the advancement in technology Internet and computer use has enhanced the way information can be accessed globally. There are universally used standards to enhance information access (Boaz et al 2000). Through computer use and networking devices information access and dependability has been enhanced. A global reach can be achieved through networking or using the netwo rk cable like coaxial (Chagari 2005). There are increases information sources other than the traditional ones. I think this promotes information access, flow and management in the societies. People can even access the library information online anywhere in the world.This an added advantage to most tourists, researchers and students.Reference Australian Library and Information Association. 2001, Learning for the Future exploitation Information services in Australian schools. Australian School Library Association and Australian Library and Information Association. 2nd ed. Curriculum Corporation, 2001. Bawden, David and Robinson, Lyn. 2002, Promoting Literacy in a digital age Approaches to training Information Literacy. well-educated Publishing, Vol. 15(4). P 297-301. 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