The role of libraries in shaping 21st century skills in Poland

Abstract

Media and information literacy (MIL) is one of the key-factors that enable people to learn 21st century skills. In some documents, MIL itself is perceived as one of those 21st century skills. In the Polish governmental documents related to 21st century skills neither the role of libraries in shaping those skills nor the term “information literacy” or “media and information literacy” were identified. This study is the first attempt to respond to the omission of MIL in official documents and to prepare a proposal arguing that libraries should actively participate in shaping 21st century skills since this is not solely the domain of educators and schools. The study proposes a rhetorical analysis, based on Burke’s rhetoric and identification theory. The documents related to 21st century skills published to date in Poland were analysed. The objective of this study was to identify the gaps where MIL programmes and practices promoting acquiring and developing those skills could be implemented. The study demonstrates that both in academic and public forums libraries seem to be ignored and not perceived as appropriate spaces for shaping 21st century skills. Hence, libraries must strengthen their position, and therefore advocacy for the role of libraries is needed.