Information Literacy Policies from the Perspective of the European Commission

Abstract

Still notably absent in the European Information Literacy discourse is a targeted, definite and resolute political strategy, despite the fact that, from the outset, Information Literacy has been conceived of as an objective of national policy, thus requiring an intervention at the policy level. Based on this assumption, the paper begins by introducing some theoretical aspects that form the basis of a rationalisation of the various aspects of Information Literacy, suggesting separate plans of analysis from which different levels of intervention can then be developed. The paper then goes on, illustrating the point of view of the European Commission, through the examination of some recently issued official documents, and also by looking at financing initiatives for programs and research projects by the Commission itself. Purpose of the essay: to illustrate vision and strategic policies of the European Commission on Information Literacy, highlighting priorities, objectives and different types of agents.