National Information Literacy Awareness Month

President Barack Obama has declared October 2009 as , calling upon Americans to recognize the important role information plays in our daily lives, and appreciate the need for a greater understanding of its impact. "This month, we dedicate ourselves to increasing information literacy awareness so that all citizens understand its vital importance," the President wrote. "An informed and educated citizenry is essential to the functioning of our modern democratic society, and I encourage educational and community institutions across the country to help Americans find and evaluate the information they seek, in all its forms." Information literacy refers to the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation. This new type of literacy also requires competency with communication technologies, including computers and mobile devices that can help in our day-to-day decisionmaking. highlights the need for all Americans to be adept in the skills necessary to effectively navigate the Information Age.