Information literacy as an emancipatory process directed to social inclusion in a knowledge society

Description: Information literacy as an individual and a social emancipatory process is explored in this paper. It also examines the awakening awareness of the Latin American librarians towards information literacy. Specially in developing countries, information literacy is a key issue because there is a close connection with social inclusion. The incorporation and mobilization of attitudes, knowledge and skills directed to citizenship exercise is the core of social inclusion. It also includes the acceptance of the differences, valorization of diversity, the right to belong and the search for constant improvement of society. Information literacy, at a higher level, more than a sum of skills and attributes, is a continuous process of the adequate mobilization of interrelated contents. The learning path that begins with literacy, functional literacy, digital inclusion, informational inclusion, culminates in social inclusion. According to this, librarians and educators are conceived as mediators and social transformation agents.