National Forum on Information Literacy

Announcing the Campaign for National Recognition of National Information Literacy Month

October 15 - November 15

"Information literacy empowers people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use, and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goals. It is a basic human right in a digital world and promotes social inclusion of all nations." - Alexandria Proclamation, 2005

Information literacy, in essence, is a critical competency necessary for America to compete successfully in an increasingly interdependent global economy which is bound together by interconnected information and communication technology infrastructure that seamlessly networks a variety of peoples, institutions, and organizations in all sectors, regardless of creed, color, age, gender or socio-economic status.

As a foundational component of America's blueprint for change we can believe in, information literacy provides all Americans with the 21st century competencies needed to enhance our competitive advantage globally and, ultimately to ensure our long term prosperity and national security. It fosters the successful transformation of traditional teaching-centered modes to modern learning-centered strategies within our rapidly and radically changing information and communication technology universe. As a basic human right, information literacy is not only an agent for social change, but, equally important, serves as a bridge to social justice and economic opportunity both at home and abroad.

In these challenging times, support for a Presidential Proclamation declaring October 15 - November 15 National Information Literacy Month reinforces our nation's efforts to embrace our mandate as a transparent, democratic society. By fostering information literacy activities such as health and wellness, participatory community involvement, financial fluency and awareness, and transparent voter registration programs across the nation, in putting forward this recommendation we hereby reconfirm our commitment to the sustainable empowerment of American ingenuity and to our steadfast dedication to lifelong learning - the Beacons of the Information Society.

Empower your organization, empower your community. Mobilize your supporters and funders, consumers, your Governor, and Congressional representatives to join our campaign for the national recognition of October 15th - November 15th as National Information Literacy Month. Please send a letter to your Congressman, Senator, and President petitioning for this.
Sample Letters to Congressman, Senator, or President

CAMPAIGN LOGISTICS:

1.) Please get your local community to support the presidential and congressional proclamation requests by sending a support letter. (See Samples)
2.) U.S. Governors' Email Address: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/govemail.html
3.) U.S. Senate and House Email Addresses: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cdirectory/index.html
4.) Coming soon, ways you can participate annually in a National Information Literacy Month Campaign (October 15th - November 15th).
5.) Contact Dr. Lana W. Jackman or Dr. Sharon A. Weiner at if you would like to take an active part in the National Campaign.