Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3732

 123STA T . 3 7 12 PROCL A M AT I O N84 3 0— OCT. 2 , 200 9Thismont h ,wed edi ca teo ur se lv es to increasin g in f ormation literac y awareness so that all citi z ens understand its vital im p ortance .A nin - formed and educated citizenry is essential to the functioning of our modern democratic society, and I encourage educational and commu- nity institutions across the country to help Americans find and evalu- ate the information they see k , in all its forms. NOW ,T HER E F ORE, I, B ARA CK OBA M A, P resident of the U nited S tates of America, b y virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 0 9 as National Information L iteracy Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the important role infor- mation plays in our daily lives, and appreciate the need for a greater understanding of its impact. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8430 o fO cto be r 2, 200 9Nation a lAr t s an dHum aniti e s M ont h,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Throughout our Nation ’ s history, the power of the arts and humanities to move people has built bridges and enriched lives, bringing individ- uals and communities together through the resonance of creative e x - pression. It is the painter, the author, the musician, and the historian whose work inspires us to action, drives us to contemplation, stirs j oy in our hearts, and calls upon us to consider our world anew. The arts and humanities contribute to the vibrancy of our society and the strength of our democracy, and during National Arts and Humanities Month, we recommit ourselves to ensuring all Americans can access and enjoy them. Our Nation’s cultural assets tell the story of America’s diversity and re- veal our common humanity. Countless American artists develop uni q ue styles by infusing their work with cultural elements from across the country and the world, and in turn, have an impact on the global arts community. Through history and philosophy, we learn the heritage of fellow Americans and appreciate the arc of their narrative as an inte- gral part of our own. Cultural exchanges, collaborative projects, and continuing education programs help us to share and preserve a mosaic of rich traditions and provide future generations with opportunities for artistic expression. The arts and humanities also bring our economy untold benefits. Mil- lions of Americans take part in the non-profit and for-profit arts indus- tries. Cultural and arts activities not only contribute tens of billions of dollars to our economy, but also inspire innovation. In neighborhoods and communities across the Nation, the arts and humanities lie at the