Pushing Back on Misinformation: The Role of the Library

Challenges posed by mis- and disinformation have only increased in the last several years. These challenges can threaten people's well-being as they access and trust faulty information related to their health, their communities, and their environment. Libraries of all kinds have a role to play as research has shown that instruction in information, news, and media literacy skills can be effective in helping people develop the skills and competencies to identify mis- and disinformation and to locate and access trustworthy sources. This session provides a brief overview of the current landscape of mis/disinformation and of the human and tech-based options for combatting it. It then takes a deeper dive into the role libraries can play by highlighting those research-based skills and literacies and discussing how to develop and facilitate engaging and effective programming on the topic.