Paul G. Zurkowski is the originator of the term "information literacy". He first used this term in 1974 in a proposal to the US National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. At the time he coined the term he was president of the Information Industry Association. He held this position for 20 years, from 1969 to 1989. A lawyer by profession, graduated from University of Wisconsin Law School in 1957, with interests in intellectual property and copyright, Zurkowski observed at the time that only small portion of the U.S. population really understood the emerging new information access routes and how these new routes would have a definitive impact their economic and social lives. Zurkowski’s calls for the creation of a major national universal information literacy program by 1984 went unheeded. His vision for information literacy skill development was not library centric, but advocates for a universal approach in its delivery across all trades, occupations and professions. For Zurkowski, the essence of information literacy is the ability to know how to handle information so that it can be used effectively to solve problems. Zurkowski views information literacy skills as a critical stepping stone in the creation of wealth, a key element for national economic development.
