Be MediaWise: The Misinformation Resilience Toolkit For Libraries

Older adults, communities of color and rural populations in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by misinformation. This amplifies some of the biggest problems facing America today: intensifying polarization, promoting vaccine hesitancy and undermining faith in democratic institutions.

MediaWise in collaboration with The American Library Association (ALA) and through support from and the , is creating a digital toolkit that can be used by librarians across the country to teach digital media literacy to adults in their communities. Through online courses, program outlines and assistance for in-person events, MediaWise will empower any librarian to fight misinformation on their own.

Finding credible information is a vital part of having an informed future citizenry and a healthy democracy. This program aims to equip diverse Americans with the skills and resources they need to be resilient to misinformation.

Sneak Peek

The Be MediaWise Misinformation Resilience Toolkit will contain lessons, videos, comics and ideas for librarians to launch media literacy programming in their communities. Resources for teens, Spanish speakers and older adults will help librarians cater to their audience — wherever they are. Here are a few examples of what you will find in the toolkit.

For Teens

Meet the MediaWise Teen Fact-Checking Network. Librarians in any community will have plenty of content to tailor media literacy offerings for youth programming.

For College Students and Young Adults

Misinformation resonates and reaches different audiences in disparate ways — age included. For college students and young adults, MediaWise relies on its Campus Correspondents and MediaWise Ambassadors to make an impact.

For Spanish Speakers

Spanish speakers are disproportionally targeted with misinformation, and generally get news from YouTube and WhatsApp. Librarians will have access to a free media literacy course they can distribute via WhatsApp and a whole suite of YouTube videos created in partnership with Telemundo.

For Older Adults

Through our MediaWise for Seniors initiative, we will include a suite of resources designed for older adults, including videos from NBC’s Lester Holt and Joan Lunden.

Coming soon to a library near you.

Advisory Board

  • Andrea Baer
    Public Services Librarian, Rowan University
    Andrea Baer (she/her) is a public services librarian at Rowan University, where she liaises to several academic programs in the humanities and social sciences and...
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  • Angie Drobnic Holan
    Director, International Fact-Checking Network
    Angie Drobnic Holan is the director of the International Fact-Checking Network, which supports and promotes fact-checking worldwide. Before assuming that role in June 2023, Holan...
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  • Jed Cridland-Hughes
    Discovery Manager, Greenville County Library System
    Jed Cridland-Hughes is the discovery manager in the Greenville County Library System in Greenville, SC, where he manages the reference, local history and interlibrary loan...
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  • Cicely Douglas
    Director, South Sioux City Public Library
    Cicely Douglas is the director of the South Sioux City Public Library in the City of South Sioux, where she oversees all library operations. A...
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  • Gina Petrie
    Adult Services Librarian, Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library
    Gina Petrie is an adult services librarian with Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library. She is a graduate of Davidson College. She received her M.A. in English...
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  • Heath Umbreit
    Adult Services Librarian, Morrill Memorial Library
    Heath Umbreit, MLIS (they/them) is the adult services librarian at Morrill Memorial Library in Massachusetts. At Drexel University, they earned their master's in Library &...
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  • Hong Yao
    Director of Technical Services, Queens Public Library
    Hong has worked in the public library systems in New York City for over 25 years. Currently, she holds the position of director of technical...
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  • Jazmyne Baylor
    Research and Instruction Librarian, Western Carolina University
    Jazmyne Baylor, MLS (she/her) is a research and instruction librarian at Western Carolina University. She attained her B.S. from Western Carolina University in communication broadcasting...
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  • Jenny Garmon
    Civic Engagement Specialist, Kansas City Public Library
    Jenny Garmon is the civic engagement specialist at the Kansas City Public Library. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut as well as...
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  • Joanna Burkhardt
    Professor, University of Rhode Island Library
    Joanna M. Burkhardt is a professor at the University of Rhode Island Library. She is currently the Collection Management Officer. Over her 30-year career at...
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  • Lindsay Frey
    Adult Services Coordinator, Zion-Benton Public Library
    Lindsay graduated in 2014 with a master's in library and information sciences from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She began her library career in 2016...
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  • Shanna Hollich
    Learning & Training Manager, Creative Commons
    Shanna Hollich holds two master’s degrees, one in library and information sciences and the other in data analytics. As a career librarian for almost fifteen...
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