Information Literacy Awareness Month

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer has officially recognized October as Information Literacy Awareness Month in the state of Montana. MSU librarians Tim Donahue and Jan Zauha, under the leadership of University of Montana librarian Sue Samson, collaborated with librarians from around the state to write a proposal to the governor, which he recognized on Aug. 2.

MSU Library has planned several events during the month of October that align with the goals of Information Literacy Awareness Month:

Oct. 1-5: Constitution Day slideshow in MSU Library

Oct. 2: Banned Books Week program at Bozeman Public Library

Oct. 12-Nov. 9: Display at MSU Library featuring Election Day information

Oct. 16: Show National Forum and Credo Reference/Libraries Thriving's webinar From School to Workforce: Information Literacy, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, 8:30-10 a.m., Renne Library

Oct. 19-Nov. 1: Display at MSU Library showcasing Information Literacy Awareness Month

Oct. 25: Friends of MSU Library Fundraiser Dinner and Auction featuring guest speaker Historian Hugh Ambrose According to the MSU librarians, information literacy is the ability to know when there is a need for information and to be able to identify, locate, evaluate and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand. In addition, the National Forum on Information Literacy is a leader in information literacy advocacy and development in the United States. The forum is a collaborative of more than 93 national and international organizations working together to streamline information literacy education and workforce development. Visit http://infolit.org/ to learn more.

For more information on these events or on information literacy concepts and issues, contact Jan Zauha at jzauha@montana.edu or 994-6554.