Access and Equity resources on WebJunction.org

Our access to WebJunction includes their list of resources for libraries that are looking for ways to "stand in solidarity, to take action, and to ensure library services and programs are equitable and safe for all."  

WebJunction has their page sorted by the following categories.  Some items are articles, some are webinars, and some are links to other pages.  There is a wide variety of information for library staff.

Take a look, there is a lot of great information.

On WebJunction

Statements and Resources from Libraries

Online Resources

For Supporting Youth

Creating Diverse Collections

Articles

Booklists and Books

Multimedia

On Accessibility

https://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/access-equity/see-also.html?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=June+17+2020+Crossroads&utm_campaign=&utm_term=WebJunctionCrossroads_COMM

MLA 2018 - Fake News in a Fact-Averse World.

The 2018 MLA conference hosted a variety of presentations that provided valuable information and practical applications for public librarians. 

One session that was a highlight for me was Fake News in a Fact-Averse World.  This thought provoking class, presented by Andrea Rice from Queen Anne’s County Library argued that librarians are on the front lines in terms of informing their patrons about what she called “media literacy.”  She mentioned a startling statistic that in one poll 64% of the respondents were confused as to what constitutes accurate news.

Ms. Rice also discussed how the ability to fact check can also be seen as a generational phenomenon – with Gen Xers better equipped to verify information sources than Millennials and Baby Boomers. 

She provided a number of resources for information professionals to assist in helping to verify sources.  Some of her preferred tools included:  Allsides, Media Matters, Fact Check, Open Secrets, Politifact, & The Sunlight Foundation.  Ms. Rice also proposed a technique called “triangulation,” or the use of two additional sources to help in verifying a piece of information.

Ms. Rice also discussed the concept known as “click bait,” where sensational stories are fabricated simply because they attract a lot of attention and therefore are popular with advertisers.

She pointed out that the term “fake news” is frequently used by people as a tactic to dismiss something that they are inclined not to agree with in the first place.  “Confirmation Bias” is the notion that we tend to stick to our pre conceived beliefs when it comes to trusting a news source.  This is why Ms. Rice embraces what she calls “media literacy” as a more methodological approach for information professionals (and the public) to help determine the validity of news items – and tell the difference between fact and fabrication.

Greg Fromme
Herring Run Branch

False Consensus and Team Building

If you are a manager or a team leader, you need to be aware of the idea of false consesus when working with your team.  False consensus is the belief that other people know the same things you know.  If you expect that everyone on your team already knows the things that you know, and they don't know these things, then you are setting your team up for failure.  

Team leaders also need to be aware of their unconcious biases, especially with regard to similarity.  This is the tendency of people to feel more comfortable around those that they see as "similar" to themselves in some way.  If we believe that people know the things that we know, then we will see them as similar to us.  We will then expect them to believe the things we believe and think the way we think, and behave the way we be behave.  These are very dangerous assumptions because they are usually incorrect.

Here are some hints to help avoid false consensus and unconcious biases to ruin your team dynamic:

• Take the time to learn what your team really knows, so that you can provide them with the information they need to complete their tasks.  
• Be aware of your biases so that you don't favor some team members over others, despite their level of achievement and the amount of work they actually complete.(or not) 
• Recognize that although you might share some interests with team members it doesn't mean that they are like you in other ways. You have to allow for different work styles and personality types.
• Ensure that every member of your team is performing at an equal level and completing their assigned tasks.

We need to make conscious efforts to work against our unconcious biases, avoid false consesus, and  ensure that we are supporting and challenging all members of our teams.