Today, September 8, is international Literacy Day. International Literacy Day was designated by UNESCO in 1966 to celebrate and highlight literacy in general, as well as the importance of literacy in creating a more just and sustainable society. Celebrated worldwide, International Literacy Day provides an opportunity to look at how far we’ve come, and to consider how far we have yet to go in fostering a fully literate world.
Since 1966, different themes have been picked yearly to highlight specific aspects of literacy that are particularly relevant to that year. This year, the theme is “promoting literacy in the digital era.” While the digital era has been around for a few decades, digital literacy is something that continuously evolves, just as the digital world itself continues to evolve. This year’s theme was selected to celebrate the achievements made possible through digital resources, as well as to consider what literacy means in 2025, and how digital literacy is taught today. Read more from UNESCO about this year’s Information Literacy Day here.
Digital literacy is more than just the ability to read. It means knowing how to interact with digital sources, the dangers that can come with them, and how to evaluate those digital resources. Digital literacy is an essential skill for navigating the 21st century, one that allows you to navigate the digital world effectively.
While the digital era has made resources more available for more people through digitization of materials, online publications, academic databases, and so on, it has also created an additional barrier. Technology, the skillset to effectively use technology, and access to the internet have added additional barriers for users. The inability to access these resources can lead to double marginalization, where people are unable to interact with either traditionally published materials and digital materials, preventing them from traditional learning and the opportunities afforded by digital resources.
While the state of Iowa does not track digital literacy, it does track literacy rates. Last year in Iowa, literacy rates for elementary schools have finally reached pre-pandemic levels again. However, middle and high-schoolers literacy rates are still below pre-pandemic levels. Read the State of Iowa’s report on literacy here.
To learn more about literacy in general, please visit our book display on 4th floor.