International Literacy Week is returning to Swift Current and will stretch from September 7 to 13.
Olivia Brotzell of the Swift Current Library attended the Swift Current city council on Tuesday evening alongside Tekeyla Friday of the Chinook Regional Library to present this year's theme and programming. Both are members of the Southwest Literacy Committee.
"Literacy is the foundation for so many aspects of our lives," said Brotzell.
She went on to ask Swift Current city council to imagine what their lives would look like if they themselves were unable to read or write.
"What would change?" posed Brotzell. "What limitations might you face? What challenges would you come across in your daily path? Now, imagine throwing a computer in the midst of how you must meet your needs."
The theme for this year's International Literacy Week is promoting digital literacy in the digital era. According to UNESCO, digital literacy involves the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate, and create information in a safe and appropriate manner utilizing digital technologies for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
"We don't want to leave those who do not have the skills of literacy or digital literacy behind," said Brotzell. "As some people may be able to read and write, but cannot navigate a computer."
Last year, public access computers at the Branch Library were used 4,415 times by general members of the public.