Can Resources Pass the Litmus Test for Validity?
Identifying reliable data relies directly on who authored the information. I recently attended an online training on Zoom. One of the presenters spoke about compiling information for a speech presentation. She remarked, "One does not have to go to the library when you have all the information you need on the computer." Yes, it's convenient to access from home; however, is the data obtained from a reliable resource? Internet websites do not necessarily provide us with the most authoritative information.
Primarily librarians are the best skilled in knowing the criteria for trustworthy information. They can create library website portals or post signs that instruct users on various methods for selecting sound resources. Also, librarians can provide to the public verifiable shared information electronically via telephone, chat, text, and email.
(0) |
Comments (1)
It is my professional opinion that having everything on the computer has made information evaluation harder. Information evaluation needs to be a skill set we all must practice and fine tune across the life continuum. It is my experience that adults from all walks of life (teachers, executives, college professors, and more) get lazy when it comes to vetting information, resulting in the prevalence of misinformation around the globe and in particular on social media. Finding new and better ways to promote the practice of information literacy and evaluation to those beyond high school and college is a constant challenge and one of the greatest we face in the information age of the 21st century. Assessing this work also remains fluid as well.