NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Lessons For The Illiterate

A national seminar highlights the importance of information literacy in academic institutions

By A CORRESSPONDENT

A one-day national seminar held extensive discussions recently on the importance of information literacy in human society and concluded with a set of recommendations on ways of enhancing skills required to survive in the information age.

Although various types of information media are available today, a large number of people find it difficult to identify, evaluate and absorb the information. The emergence of new information technologies has drastically changed the traditional information business.

One of the challenges of modern times is to identify what information one needs and then search for it. There is a vast array of media to read, listen to, watch and interact with. However, only a few people have developed the appropriate skills to process such information effectively.

Access to more information is not necessarily better for the individual. What is required is accurate and credible information. Getting such information from various media rests on whether the individual has a specific set of skills.

According to an estimate, more than one billion websites are available on the Internet. With a computer, telephone line, electricity and basic information about these sites, one can acquire all kinds of information at home, something unimaginable until a decade ago.

At a time when new sources of information offer enormous opportunities to enhance personal knowledge, the Nepalese people have been unable to explore this vast treasure house because of lack of knowledge and skills.

With support from the American Center, Tribhuvan University Central Library Kirtipur organized the country's first national seminar on information literacy. Participated in by renowned scholars, senior government officials, Tribhuvan University professors, journalists and information and documents officers, the seminar discussed major issues related to new information sources and ways of getting accurate information.

"Information is power. The democratic path that Nepal has embarked upon seeks to empower people with information," Minister of State for Science and Technology Bhakta Bahadur Balayar said in his inaugural speech. "The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, promulgated in 1990, upholds the right of every citizen to be informed. In this regard, information literacy, by developing the ability to access, evaluate, organize and use information from a variety of sources, can make a valuable contribution in the empowerment of people," he added.

"In the forthcoming Tenth Plan, provisions are being made to establish 1,500 community-based IT centers in the different parts of the country in order to provide villagers easy access to information on enhancing agricultural productivity and for improving overall quality of life."

As a large number of people do not have basic knowledge about new information opportunities, the technologies and mediums alone are not enough. "Frankly speaking, we are still information illiterate and this seminar will help me to seek some information to be literate on it," said Trailokya Nath Uprety, former vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University. "This is an age of information, so access to information is one of the basic things of the times."

The information revolution has transformed the global system. "Information has changed the global scenario, everyone can have access to information provided the technologies and other facilities [are available]," said Robert C. Kerr, director of the American Center at the inauguration function.

The explosion of information technologies has made it possible to share the information available in any part of the world. Scholars and students in Nepal are yet to tap its potential, while a large number of people are information illiterate.

"The term information literacy, sometimes referred to as information competency, is generally defined as the ability to access, evaluate, organize and use information from a variety of sources," said Dr. Man Prasad Wagle.

Despite the importance of information in a rapidly changing society, education institutions are yet to make preparations to meet the new challenge. "The universities and educational institutions in the country have to introduce new technologies to provide information," said Professor Dr. Hom Nath Bhattarai, member secretary of the University Grants Commission, who chaired the inauguration session.

The role of libraries has changed fundamentally in the information age. "Libraries need to update [themselves] in the changing context of the information age. Despite lack of resources and technologies, the Central Library has been making every effort to offer new opportunities," said Krishna Mani Bhandary, librarian of the TU Central Library.

Mrs. Bina Vaidya, deputy librarian of the TU Central Library thanked the American Center and other participants for their support and encouragement in organizing the seminar.

At the seminar, chaired by Dr. Uprety, Dr. Wagle, Krishna Mani Bhandary, Keshab Poudel and Ram Krishna Timalsena presented four papers, the Role of Information Literacy in Education Development, Information Literacy, Media Literacy and Right to Information, respectively.

Following the presentation of the papers, the participants were divided into four groups. Each group presented a number of recommendations on developing a plan to increase access to information.