Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Strategizing For Public Policy: The Information Literacy State Proclamation Project, Sharon A. Weiner, Lana W. Jackman, Emily Prause

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This paper describes a project designed to raise the awareness of policymakers about the importance of information literacy to achieve societal goals. Issues benefit from the governmental support, prioritization, mandates, and funding that can result when there is policy behind them. Studies indicate that many people lack the ability to draw on quality sources of information for a variety of purposes. Attention by policymakers would accelerate the inclusion of information literacy in settings such as education, workforce training, citizenship preparation, and lifelong learning. One way to raise awareness of policymakers is by recommending a proclamation to government executives.