Promoting media and information literacy in libraries Frank

Promoting media and information literacy in libraries Frank Huysmans University of Amsterdam 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 1

Structure of the Presentation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Media & Information Literacy (MIL) Public libraries and MIL Policy approaches to MIL What we know about effectiveness Conclusion 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 2

1. Media & Information Literacy (MIL) Media literacy § ability to critically engage with media and mediated content § knowledge, skills, attitudes, ethics Information literacy § recognize information needs § locate, evaluate and use information for personal goals Common ground and differences § coming from separate traditions (academic/practice) § media literacy and information literacy connected following digitization of media and information 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 3

2. Public libraries and MIL Promoting information literacy § from 1970 s onwards § assist learners and teachers in finding and evaluating sources of textual information Enhancing media literacy § starting second half of 1990 s: ‘digital skills’ / ‘ICT skills’ § children vs. adults § protection vs. empowerment § information & media: access vs. sharing § media labs, makerspaces, hackathons etc. 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 4

3. Policy approaches Library organizations & academic researchers § formalization of information literacy by professionals and scholars § recognized by government, integrated in policies Supranational organizations § EC & OECD: economic & technological perspective § IFLA & UNESCO: social & cultural perspective § Moscow Declaration 2012: “MIL is defined as a combination of knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices required to access, analyse, evaluate, use, produce and communicate information and knowledge in creative, legal and ethical ways that respect human rights” 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 5

4. What we know about effectiveness Information literacy § wealth of research on broader concept ‘information behaviour’ (how do people search for information? ) Media literacy § in general: evidence not solid yet § diverse approaches in theory and method § some evidence of effectiveness § not much known (yet) of effectiveness of library programs § UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Assessment Framework offers useful framework for comparative research and benchmarking 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 6

5. Conclusion Unified approach: Media & Information Literacy • support citizens of all ages in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and ethical stance to become more media and information literate Recommendations § recognize full potential public libraries in ET 2020 § support public libraries (policy, finances) § continue working on unified approach of MIL with international and library organizations § work towards research program in Horizon 2020, using UNESCO’s Assessment Framework 20/06/2016 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education 7