From G.E. Evan’s Developing Library and Information Center Collections, 5th Ed.: “We were told that if one put one million monkeys at one millions typewriters, they would, in time, produce the complete works of Shakespeare. Now that we have the Internet, we know that is just not true.”
Here’s hoping that I’m not one of the one million monkeys.
What brings this comment to mind is the new book by Lee Seigel, cultural critic and author of Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. Seigal sees the innovations of the Internet as deeply flawed, dominated by commercial interests and concerned only with popularity, not with accuracy or fairness. His particular concern is the transformation of news to a commodity based on personal interest: Seigel asserts that consumers will seek out sources of information that will tell them only what they wish to hear, that these sources are characterized by bias, “where the border between truthfulness and lying is constantly being eroded.”
While Seigel may be somewhat of an alarmist, he did make me think about the enormous importance of information literacy education. The basics of information literacy, as identified by the ALA and ACRL, seem self-evident: the ability to determine an information need, to access information effectively and efficiently, the ability to apply critical thinking and analysis both to information and to sources of information, the ethical and legal use of information by the patron. I think, however, that inculcating this knowledge into higher education alone is insufficient for our society. Surely the precepts of information literacy need to be taught as soon as a child begins to use the Internet. When I read Rockman’s article on creating teachable moments, I kept thinking that parents and young children need to be similarly engaged. By the time a patron reaches college, individuals are already grappling with economic, social, and health issues that require sophisticated decision making, and the basics of freshman information literacy instruction seem too little, too late.
Lissagirl,
Information freedom and information literacy are so important for a democratic country. Information is powerful and it can change and shape a population’s behaviors whether it’s consumers or voters. I don’t mean to be political here but what is happening in Tibet is a great example of the importance of information freedom. The Chinese communist government would only report news that is aligning with the government’s often biased version. Most people over there have no other information sources to compare but to believe that the Tibetan protesters were the “bad” guys according to the government controlled-media. The Americans really take information freedom for granted in this country. If our citizens just accept any information without finding out its validity or accuracy, then they might as well live in China. Often information found on internet has agendas behind it. As information specialists we have a moral duty to assist general public and provide information literacy to them. Information literacy is the medicine to prevent consumer frauds and government propaganda. I agree with you we need to start educating our citizens from their early age.
By: dkl0039 on April 3, 2008
at 2:22 pm
Lissagirl,
I really want to read Lee Seigel’s book after reading your comment. I was glad I ordered it for my library. I think he’s right we search out news that supports our biases. News is a business and it seems like investigative journalism is becoming obsolete. Very scary, teaching critical thinking about information is absolutely important.
I think the current political situation really highlights what you are talking about. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Hillary Clinton, I hear people say well we have to stop her, she’s terrible (I live in Katy). I always ask, “Well, why don’t you like her?”—I never get a reason. Just well you know she’s horrible. These responses have actually made me like her more, but that’s another issue. I can think of many reasons people might support other candidates, but I never hear any reasons at all. The same could be said about people’s views on the other candidates as well.
I agree with both you and David that critical thinking is complex and can’t happen overnight. It needs to start with young children.
By: magensbay on April 5, 2008
at 2:00 am