The Roles of Professional Organizations in School Library Education

Introduction

The need for critical use of information is more important than ever. The 1991 SCANS report notes information location and manipulation as vital skills for today’s employees. In a digital world where the amount of information doubles every two years, individuals need to evaluate resources carefully and determine how to use relevant information to solve problems and make wise decisions. During the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society, governments and world leaders “made a strong commitment towards building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society for all, where everyone can access, utilise and share information and knowledge” (United Nations, 2006, p. 6). What constitutes an information society? Fundamentally, an information society is one in which information replaces material goods as the chief driver of socio-economics. Human intellectual capital has higher currency than material capital, or at least intellect is needed to optimize the use of material resources.

Within that framework, UNESCO (2005) Bangkok identified communication and information as a major program, with information literacy constituting a major thread within that initiative. This international organization asserts: “Information literacy enhances the pursuit of knowledge by equipping individuals with the skills and abilities for critical reception, assessment and use of information in their professional and personal lives. “For the society to have information literate adults, information literacy education needs to start as early as possible” (¶1).