1. Introduction

What does it mean to be a literate member of society? The growing acceptance of lifelong learning has expanded the views and demands of literacy. Literacy is no longer seen as a condition that one either has or is lacking. Rather, it is seen as a continuum of knowledge, skills, and strategies that individuals acquire over the course of their lives in various contexts and through interactions with their peers and with the larger communities in which they participate. As historians remind us, literacy in its earliest form consisted of little more than being able to sign one’s name on a legal document. It was not until later that fluent oral reading became important and not until the 20^th century that reading to gain information was given primary emphasis. As we move into the 21^st century, our conception of literacy is evolving once again. The prevalence of technology in the everyday lives of the world’s citizens has grown at a rate that many would have found hard to imagine 25 or even 10 years ago. Policy makers, business leaders, and educators have come to expand their notion of a literate populace to include the skills and abilities that will enable citizens to function in an increasingly technological world.