Information Literacy Day is March 16
March 14, 2018
James Madison By John Vanderlyn (1775–1852) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Freedom of Information (FOI) Day is an annual event on or near the date of the birthday of James Madison. Considered by some as the “Father of the Constitution,” Madison played a vital role in the drafting of the historic document and also authored and championed the United States Bill of Rights. Individual rights and freedom of information were of high importance to Madison.
The Bookmobile will be celebrating Freedom of Information Day by visiting our local communities. Whether you are searching for medical resources, finding classroom supplements, learning a new skill, or simply looking to obtain more information on a subject of interest, the Bookmobile will help you.
You can search the library’s online catalog here, then place a hold on the item and pick it up during your next Bookmobile visit. This option saves you time from searching each branch library in person.
If you have time to spare, then do browse the Bookmobile’s collection! There is always something new and exciting to learn. Here are a few items in our collection which fall under Information Day.
The fine artist’s guide to tools & materials : an essential reference for understanding and using the tools of the trade (2014) by Elizabeth Gilbert
Nonsense : the power of not knowing (2015) by Jamie Holmes
The Family Tree cemetery field guide: how to find, record, & preserve your ancestors’ graves (2017) by Joy Neighbors
Freedom of Information Day is also a way to recognize and celebrate Information Literacy. Defined as the ability to find, recognize, and understand information, Information Literacy is important in an era filled with quick access to information through the Internet search engines like Google and Bing. It can be easy to find a resource which looks reliable, but has false information.
Printed and electronic books are still a wonderful resource to use when finding accurate information since they are edited by a team of professionals to convey accurate information and authors must cite their sources. However, an author can still have a bias when writing about a subject. It’s important to read several books from different authors about a topic before fully understanding what you are researching.
Information Literacy is one of five literacies recognized by the Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward program. PA Forward is an initiative designed to recognize and support five literacies, which are essential to a community: Basic, Civic and Social, Information, Financial, and Health.
The goal of the initiative is to create a future where all Pennsylvania public, special, academic 
and school libraries unite in a shared vision of helping residents succeed as citizens, parents, students, employers, employees, and consumers.
