The role of libraries in misinformation programming: A research agenda

Abstract

Misinformation, or fake news, has exploded across social media platforms and communities over the past few years, with serious social and political implications. Many library practitioners and organizations have argued that libraries can and should play a central role in educating the public about this emerging issue. However, serious gaps exist in understanding how libraries can create effective community education about misinformation. This article maps out a research agenda that researchers and public library practitioners can use to make libraries more effective sites for combatting misinformation. This research agenda is grounded in analysis of interviews and workshop discussions of public library staff from Washington State. This analysis reveals three areas in which academic partners can support public libraries: through the design of effective programming, through the development of tools that help librarians keep up-to-date on relevant misinformation, and through interventions in the political and economic contexts that hamper the freedom of librarians to engage controversial topics. Our hope is that this article can help to spur more expansive library and information science research across these areas and become the beginning of a longer and more empirically grounded conversation about how public libraries can achieve their potential for combating misinformation.

Lilibrarians’ attitudes towards the role of public libraries in dealing with information disorder

“…Ovdje želimo uputiti na recentno istraživanje Younga i grupe autora iz 2020. godine o ulozi narodnih knjižnica u postčinjeničnoj eri koje je obuhvatilo, između ostaloga, analizu stavova knjižničara o njihovoj ulozi i kompetencijama u odgovaranju na izazove koji prate informacijski poremećaj. Navedeno istraživanje ukazuje na izazove organizacije i provođenje knjižničnih programa usmjerenih na dezinformacije u narodnim knjižnicama (Young et al, 2020).…”

“…Formati djelovanja podrazumijevaju različite tipove i strukture javnih događanja unutar knjižnične ustanove kao što su panel-diskusije, prezentacije stručnjaka te moderirane rasprave s članovima zajednice. Ispitanici su izrazili nesigurnost glede optimalnih oblika programa usmjerenih na dezinformacije te potrebu partnerstva i suradnje sa znanstvenicima u području knjižnične i informacijske znanosti kako bi se iznašli učinkoviti formati takvih programa te metode njihova vrednovanja (Young et al, 2020).…”

Latvian public libraries as a resource, cooperation partner and initiator for promoting media literacy and civic participation in local communities

“…Such a society supports a democratic community in which informed citizens take an active part in their governance and develops its understanding of fake news, critical thinking and seeks to improve information literacy in general (Mooney et al, 2018). Thus, disinformation, misinformation and fake news are currently among the most discussed topics in media literacy-related training programmes at public libraries for any audience (Young et al, 2020). However, libraries struggle to address this issue effectively due to staff shortages and effective means to assess both community needs and the outcomes of library initiatives (LaPierre and Kitzie, 2019).…”

“…However, libraries struggle to address this issue effectively due to staff shortages and effective means to assess both community needs and the outcomes of library initiatives (LaPierre and Kitzie, 2019). Other studies indicate that the lifelong learning programmes related to disinformation issues at libraries could benefit from more effective programme designs and the development of tools that help librarians keep up to date with relevant examples of misinformation (Young et al, 2020). Still, there are serious gaps in understanding how public libraries have addressed the issues related to disinformation as most of the published literature stems from academic libraries.…”

Public Library Responses to COVID-19

“…Past research suggests this might be the result of the historically weak information and media literacy practices in public libraries (LaPierre & Kitzie, 2019;Sullivan, 2019;Young et al, 2020).…”