Forum Question

In a world of disinformation, social media, and “alternative facts,” how do you identify and vet credible information sources? How do you share those credible sources with students and public library users? What is a librarian’s role in helping the greater community find common ground in shared facts?

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Evaluating Sources

When I started in libraries 30 years ago, finding credible information took time, but it wasn't difficult. You may have to spend 2 hours looking through books to find the answer to a reference question, but it was generally assumed that a print media source from a reputable publisher would have factual information.
Now, on the Internet, you might find an answer in a matter of seconds, but that doesn't mean it's the right answer. And now, of course, we now realize that print resources may have certain biases too.
It's interesting to me that I have friends…

Tags: Accuracy

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Motives, Word Choice, & Practice

We tell students to avoid biased sources, but that's honestly not possible. Nothing is neutral, so identifying those biases becomes important.

Sometimes the motives behind publishing are reasonably easy to discern, and that's a good place to start.
Does an inflammatory article come from a site selling merchandise (like Infowars)?
Is this think piece put out by a PAC with a clear electoral agenda?
Was a study funded by a corporation with a vested interesting in getting specific results?
Is this YouTube video monetized, and who benefits from that? Read the Full Response

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School Librarian

We need to teach our young people how to detect disinformation and how to go about checking for real information, particularly online. As a school librarian (and reading teacher), I wear many hats. I'd like to integrate more media literacy into my program.

Tags: Disinformation

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News Literacy Toolkit

As part of an LSTA Grant, the Pacific Library Partnership developed a News Literacy Toolkit, https://www.plpinfo.org/news-literacy-toolkit/ The toolkit includes curated resources for librarians meet public interest in media literacy quickly and confidently. It has curated programming which can be downloaded, along with games and PowerPoints.

The goal is for us to teach our patrons how to identify and vet credible information sources. A forum was held with local journalists and was supported by The Trust Project and Journalism Program, from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.

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Academic Instruction Services

Questions: "..how do you identify and vet credible information sources?
How do you share those credible sources with students and public library users?
What is a librarian’s role in helping the greater community find common ground in shared facts?"

1) Utilize library's search filters, look at associations of article authors to universities and businesses, utilize web sites to debunk news headlines.

2) Teach university students to utilize filters in article searches, selecting "peer reviewed" and "scholarly" for filtering information.

Also teach use of debunking sites and…

Tags: Accuracy, Fake news, Media, News, Social media, Sources, Verification

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Welcome Message

My Fellow Librarian,

American self-government was created by a small group of people who were thinkers as well as doers, engaged in both the world of ideas and public affairs. The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress was created to help foster that traditional American interaction, providing space to better understand and address the challenges facing democracy in the 21st century.

As we all experience the deluge of information that comes at us through the internet, we want to engage you – America’s librarians – in a conversation about how citizens can sort fact from fiction, information from disinformation. After all, it is no longer easy for citizens to identify credible information, engage in legitimate debate, or counter disinformation.

We launched this WikiWisdom Forum to celebrate Danielle Allen, winner of the 2020 Kluge Prize, and her role in civics education. It is designed to learn from America’s librarians how you discern credibility and authenticity in information sources, how you communicate that to students and public library users, and what role librarians should play in helping the greater community find common ground in shared facts.

This peer collaboration platform will be live until February 10, 2021. After extensive on-line discussion, we will choose a small group of thought leaders from everyone who participates. This small group will work with the moderator to prepare a report of actionable ideas that your colleagues can use as they attempt to counter disinformation in their own communities.

On March 11, the thought leaders will present their report, with your ideas, to Danielle Allen and us in a virtual meeting sponsored by the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress.

Don’t delay. Please join our conversation today.

Thank you for your participation,

Dr. John Haskell
Director of the Kluge Center

Julius Jefferson
President of the American Library Association

Moderator Message

Cindy Richards Moderator

Welcome to this WikiWisdom Forum. I’m Cindy Richards and I will be your moderator.
How the WikiWisdom Forum Works:

Step One:
Librarians across the country are invited to share their ideas in response to the questions posed on this platform.

Step Two:
At the end of this online conversation, a small group of thought leaders will be chosen to work with the moderator to create a report showcasing your experience.

Step Three:
On March 11, the thought leaders will present their report, with your ideas, to Danielle Allen and us in a virtual meeting sponsored by the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress.