2018-06-15 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 1, Issue 2

Featured Story

Fake News: How Libraries Can Help Patrons Discern Reliable Sources of Information

Technology has flattened the playing field for journalism. Blogs, social media, ubiquitous cameras and video, and startup news sites have brought users a firehose of unfiltered, often decontextualized information. With basically unfettered access to raw data, users lose out on valuable context that helps us determine validity and reliability. How can libraries help patrons figure out what sources to trust?

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, or IFLA, working from an article by FactCheck.org, has a great starting point for developing skills with a succinct infographic: How To Spot Fake News. In brief, they suggest eight guidelines for discerning how reliable an article or website may be.

  1. Consider the Source
    • Take a look at what company published the story. Don’t just let them speak for themselves- try googling them to see what other websites have to say. Have they been established for a few years or did they just pop up? Does it mention anywhere if the story is actually sponsored content?
  2. Read Beyond
    • Headlines and titles are designed to hook the reader with the most salacious and controversial parts of the story. They want you to read or watch their story, and sometimes the headline doesn’t match the message. If the article is especially shocking or seems incredible, check some other resources to get a second opinion.
  3. Check the Author
    • Are they an experienced journalist? Are they experts in the field? Read their bio, google them, see where else they have worked. If you can’t find much info about the author, try to find out why that is.
  4. Supporting Sources
    • Follow where the story goes. If they mention a recent report or a study, try looking it up yourself. See if the facts match the story.
  5. Check the Date
    • Sometimes older articles get rediscovered and passed around. Always check the date on the article to see if it’s really about current events. Ask yourself why this story is being brought back up.
  6. Is it a joke?
    • This goes back to checking the source and the author. Sites like www.theonion.com are famous for posting outrageous satirical content that often gets confused for actual news.
  7. Check your biases
    • Just because you disagree with the tone or material in an article doesn’t mean it isn’t true or accurate. It’s easy to want to shop around until you find news that seems right to you, but discovering the truth also means the truth might be uncomfortable.
  8. Ask the Experts

Hopefully these will be useful for your own edification or maybe even for putting on a program!

Tyler McLane

Fail Forward

We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.

Double Checking Supplies

Recently I hosted an event where one of the main attractions was button making. It was a huge hit until our box of supplies ran low. “No problem! We have a whole second box!” I said, feeling excellently prepared. Well, the box of supplies was for the wrong size button! We almost broke the button maker trying to make it work (no easy feat!) and everyone was disappointed. What I learned was to always double check supplies (for quantity and conformity). In the future, I’ll take a second look before the event to make sure I’m not promising something I can’t deliver.

Jessica Martinez

Crush Corner

Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you in the work you do? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!

Salmon Public Library

This week I am crushing on Salmon Public Library. I fell head over heels for my new infatuation watching SPL’s exceptional social media presence: it is definitely worth following. It’s fun and informative. I am constantly looking for something cool to post on social media for my own library and they have inspiring ideas. (Get some butts into the library!) Also they are launching their new and upcoming SWITCH. Let’s all watch and see what is going to happen. Sign up for SPL’s trendy newsletter for ideas from their makerspace, their sound studio, or design thinking classes. You will fall in love too!

Rasheil Stanger

SPLAT explores new ways to build capacity and support library folk as they serve their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). SPLAT is funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Library and Museum Services, Library Services and Technology Act. Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org