The most important skill for a modern person is media and information literacy
Are you tempted to click on a link tempting you to win a million? Do you know how to check facts and sources? Do you know how to avoid being the target of the troll factory? Such knowledge can be provided to its visitors by Lithuanian libraries, which become media and information literacy competence centers (MIRKT). On October 24-31, when World Media and Information Literacy Week is celebrated all over the world, Lithuanian libraries invite the public to numerous events on various media literacy topics. There will be free lectures, meetings, trainings, and games.
“World Media and Information Literacy Week is a great opportunity to invite and gather people to talk, discuss, and share their experiences on media and information literacy issues. As rumors spread and facts are distorted, the line between truth and lies becomes hard to see,” says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. According to her, “it destroys the foundations of our society and democracy and even endangers lives, as it spreads false information about medicines and vaccinations, incites hatred, and promotes racism. In such a flow of information, more points of reference and more rational thinking are needed. That’s why media and information literacy are key skills for 21st-century citizens.”
Meetings, knowledge, hikes – active and fun
“Preparation for World Media and Information Literacy Week lasted almost a year, so the variety and abundance of events are really impressive, and they are especially enriched by the gathered team of strong partners. We, the organizers, want to reveal the topic in a fun and engaging way. The axis that unites all activities is media and information literacy,” says Greta Kėvelaitienė, coordinator of the World Media and Information Literacy Week in Lithuanian libraries. According to her, all the ideas hardly fit into a week, so audiovisual content creation training for library visitors starts already at the beginning of October. On October 21, an orientation walk, “So I Know Everything,” will be held in many public libraries in Lithuanian municipalities. During the walk, participants will have the opportunity to test their strength, answer various questions, and win sponsors’ prizes.
From October 24 to 31, libraries are waiting for more than 70 live meetings with specialists: with prof. We will discuss artificial intelligence with Linus Petkevičius, we will talk about the most famous conspiracy theories with TikTok star and historian Kristina Petrauskė, and comedian Justinas Visickas will wittily present the topic of media information literacy in a stand-up comedy evening. We will meet with doctors, computer game developers, financiers, and other guests. 7 virtual events on the topics of media and information, artificial intelligence, finance, and health literacy will be broadcast on the “Library for All” YouTube channel.
During the week, there will be a virtual escape room, a reading challenge will take place, and everyone who wants to can test their strength by solving a crossword puzzle or brainstorming. There will be remote discussions in the evenings every weekday, which can be watched live or later at a convenient time.
Deepening knowledge in the fields of finance, health, history, and even artificial intelligence is very important, but the organizers want to look at the topic of information literacy from the fun side as well, learn from comical situations, actively march, even participate in improvisational performances, and act themselves in solving media and information literacy dilemmas. Therefore, during the week, the organizers will invite you to joke at a “stand-up” comedy evening in Kaunas and improvise with crazy actors at the “Impro241” theater show in Vilnius.
All information about the events that will take place in libraries on October 24-31 is published on the “Library for All” website and on the “Media and Information Literacy in Libraries” Facebook account.
The patron of the World Media and Information Literacy Week is the Lithuanian National UNESCO Commission, and the coordinator is the Gabriel Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library of Panevėžys County.
The week is financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. Organizers: Association of County Public Libraries, Association of Lithuanian Municipal Public Libraries, Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library, Lithuanian College Libraries Association, and Lithuanian Medical Library.
Partners: Vytautas Magnus University, non-governmental organization Meno Avilys, Baltic Digital Resilience Research Center DIGIRES, news agency Media4change, non-governmental organization Civil Resilience Initiative (CRI), Lithuanian Association Gyvastis, financial market company MB iFuture Investments”, National Blood Center, Improvisation Theater “Impro241”, Association “Network of Local Community Journalists”.
Sponsors: “Antanukas” electronic book bookstore, “Go3” television, “National Geographic Lietuva” magazine, “Telia” telecommunications company.
Information sponsor: LRT.