Promoción de la lectura y politicas de alfabetización informacional

Abstract

The objective of this article is to reflect upon the relationship between reading promotion and information literacy, regarded as a public policy in the context of the National Reading Plan in Uruguay. The objective of this Plan is to contribute to social equity and to information and knowledge democratization access. This subject is being object of research at Escuela Unviersitaria de Bibliotecologia y Ciencias Afines in Universidad de la Republica where this paper summarizes the theoretical approach which founds this research line. The Information and Knowledge Society requires of individuals able to integrate and adapt themselves all along their lives. Reading is regarded as a fundamental tool which allows people to integrate and to participate actively into the society and to become a promoter of its changes. The new social organization featured by the presence of information and communication technologies requires of several �literacies�. Nowadays, being literate implies not only being able to write and read but also having competences in order to understand what is happening in the outer world. Being able to use information with critical sense is a key issue in order to promote autonomous individuals, able to think, to analyze, to create and evaluate everything around themselves, as well as to face the new society challenges. In this context, the information literacy acquires relevance in order to promote the education of qualified social actors. It is noted that national public policies are orientated to leisure aspects of reading. However, it is pointed out that these policies should be regarded since a global perspective tending to include the literacy in the use of information in order to promote an open minded individual. All of these aspects are the foundations which allow to state that Reading Plans should contemplate Information Literacy Policies. These policies would contribute to achieve a society with users-readers in an ample sense. This research enhances and puts emphasis on the library, as the natural ambit of reading promotion, and as the space where informational literacy policies should be implemented. In this sense, the presence of librarians who can contribute with their experience and knowledge is fundamental. The intention is to focus reading in the context of information literacy, taking into account that librarians can carry out multiple activities in order to contribute to this objective. A literature review was carried out in order to present some important concepts about Information and Knowledge Society, Information Literacy, Reading and Reading Promotion. The case of Uruguay is presented and the evolution of the actions is analyzed. It is concluded in the possible relationship between reading promotion and information literacy policies. This perspective is recommended in order to articulate and coordinate different policies as the educative, social ones on a national scenario.