Tuesday, April 17, 2018

A104/105: Finding Facts in the Alternative World

2:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Kathleen Lehman, Head, User Services, University of Arkansas

Amy Affelt, Director, Database Research, Worldwide, Compass Lexecon Author, The Accidental Data Scientist: Big Data Applications & Opportunities for Librarians & Information Professionals

Sara Tompson, Manager, Library, Archives & Records Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Fellow of the Special Libraries Association

Doris Small Helfer, Librarian Emerita, University Library, California State University, Northridge American Library Association, Special Libraries Association, California Academic Research Libraries (CARL).

Come learn tips and tricks from librarians on the frontlines who have to verify truth in a factually ambiguous world! Librarians often approach information with a “healthy skepticism,” so it was not surprising when IFLA’s 8-point checklist to spotting fake news became an overnight social media sensation and headline on CNN! Info pro Affelt talks about this infographic and discusses other red flags that signal rumors, scams, and outright falsehoods. Everyone needs to know how to make these determinations. STEM librarian Tompson shares some tools for vetting information sources’ veracity, including a tried-and-true rubric for undergraduates, as well as resources from scientists and skeptics. Academic librarian Helfer talks about the academic librarian’s role in teaching critical thinking in information literacy in the academy designed to combat fake or misleading research. User services librarian Lehman shares the “whys” behind lies and fake news, including why we lie, why we are inclined to believe lies, why it’s so hard to refute lies, and, finally, why the promotion of truth even matters.