Abstract:

Media and Information Literacy and its crucial necessity in all ages, social groups and professional sectors of society is one of the hot topics discussed during recent years in all levels – from global to local. As a composite concept (UNESCO) is being transversally present in all processes when and how people seek, receive, evaluate, use and create information and/or media.

The reasons why communities and thought leaders are stressing the importance of Media and Information Literacy lie in the huge change of reality in last years, which affects professional skills needed, increasing digital literacy necessity, but also – especially admitting the domination of social media over traditional (press, radio, TV) - lack of critical thinking and evaluation skills of the people in using all media and information.

The reason libraries would have to take initiative in developing educative media and information literacy is that libraries, especially public ones are the centres for communities, often the described as “third places” (Oldeburg, 1999) where people spend time (after first – home and second – workplace or school). Libraries can be described as genuine Lifelong learning centres (firstly as holders of collections for self development and secondly as the venues and often organizators of education activities and after-school activities. Librarians in the nowaday reality are frequently the persons that guide their users throughout different analogue and electronical information resources giving advice and educative support.

The article and presentation will focus on following topics:
o How education on media and information literacy concept is understood within the library sector;
o Importance of media and information literacy skills nowadays and in future;
o What can libraries do for advocacy of media and information literacy skills; why should libraries be more involved;
o Possibilities of cooperation between education and library sectors.

Keywords:

Media Literacy, Information Literacy, Digital Literacy, critical thinking.