October is Information Literacy Month

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FORT KENT- When Sofia Birden, associate director at the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Blake Library, and some of her colleagues from across the state wanted to recognize October as Information Literacy Month, they turned to what they know best: they researched the steps necessary to obtain a proclamation from the governor.

ADVOCATING INFORMATION LITERACY – Associate Library Director of UMFK’s Blake Library Sophia Birden, pictured here on the left, combined her efforts with librarians and information technology staff around the state to recognize October as Information Literacy Month. Governor LePage signed the proclamation on Oct. 12. Blake Library work study and freshman nursing student Danielle Chiasson is pictured on the right. - Jenna Beaulieu image

Maine Governor Paul R. LePage signed a proclamation on Oct. 12 recognizing October as Information Literacy Month in the state of Maine. For Birden and her counterparts at university and state libraries across the state, it was a sweet reward for an effort that lasted more than six months.

“As information tools become more sophisticated, we have to help people become more information literate,” said Birden. “We wanted to make people aware of it by having the proclamation,” Birden said.

In 2009, President Barack Obama proclaimed October as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. In his proclamation the president noted that Americans are inundated with vast amounts of information. Rather than merely possessing data, he noted, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation.

The National Forum on Information Literacy encouraged the governors in all 50 states to proclaim October 2012 as Information Literacy Month.

In light of that call to arms, Birden teamed with colleagues from other campuses and the state to make the proclamation a reality. Birden said, “We obviously push information literacy in some form or fashion and President Obama himself issued a proclamation. We want that awareness in our community and town, throughout the US, and hopefully the world.”

The others included Jim Bird from the Fogler Library at the University of Maine, who spearheaded the group; Angelynn King, Library Director at the University of Maine at Machias; Frank Roberts, Library Director at the University of Maine at Farmington; Judy Montgomery, Associate Librarian at Bowdoin College; and Linda Lord, State Librarian at the Maine State Library.

The group performed a variety of tasks, including drafting the proclamation’s language; editing; gathering the signatures necessary to carry a proclamation request forward; and obtaining the support of legislators, including that of UMFK alumnus, state Senator Troy Jackson.

“Troy Jackson was really helpful in writing a letter for us,” said Birden. According to Birden, there were some members of the Governor’s staff that also helped expedite the process.

Once all of the necessary paperwork was submitted to the governor’s office for review, the group waited, as the proclamation request made its way through the bureaucratic process.

Early last week members of the group were delighted to hear the news that their efforts had paid off. Governor LePage had proclaimed October as Information Literacy Month in Maine. They all were elated.

“The process was not as bad as I expected,” said Birden. “We did have to wait a bit, but not as long as I anticipated.”

The significance of the proclamation reaches far out beyond library staff and patrons, according to Birden. “Information is power,” said Birden. “The more information literate a person is, the more power that they have. Information literacy goes far beyond libraries. Libraries certainly contribute to information literacy, but it extends out to everyone.”

October is also Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, according to Birden. Blake Library offers displays and selected books pertaining to these issues and makes them readily available to the public. With this latest proclamation, the library staff will be able to increase awareness of information literacy and provide materials for patrons and community members to increase their knowledge and skills.

Birden said, “The proclamation provides exposure. With how important information literacy is in this day and age... we need to make sure everyone is aware of it.”

Looking back on the successful, if long, process, Birden finds herself a little bit awed, and quite proud.

“It was quite fun. I enjoyed it. The individuals who worked on the project all felt that it was so important to do this. We knew that we had to make it happen. It was something we all felt was important to libraries, but also to the people of Maine.”

The timing of the proclamation signing prohibited Blake Library staff from recognizing Information Literacy Month this October, but they will be recognizing it next year, Birden said.