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.

Understanding key distinctions between misinformation/disinformation, speech/action, and mistaken belief/ conviction provides an opportunity to expand research and policy toward more constructive online communication.

(Seattle IT) delivers powerful information solutions for the City and the public we serve. As Seattle strives to become a safe, affordable, vibrant, innovative and connected City, the need for effective technology solutions is critical. Seattle IT supports City departments in the pursuit of this mission by connecting people with their government, ensuring an effective and productive workforce, and building a digitally equitable community.

PurposeThis paper aims to offer early insight into ongoing research comparing public access venues such as libraries, cybercafés and telecentres in 25 countries around the world.Design/methodology/approachThe authors studied information needs and uses of information and communication technologies (ICT) in these public access venues, with a particular focus on underserved populations.FindingsUnderstanding trends, differences and similarities across venues and across countries offers an emerging map that will help researchers and policymakers conduct future research and make better decisions to strengthen public access to information through ICT.Originality/valueThe research was done in partnership with local research teams in 25 countries around the world, and studied public libraries, telecentres and cybercafés side by side, while most studies in the past have looked at them independently of one another.

Designing for the mobile phone to shared PC pipeline.