Media Literacy Education in Libraries for Adult Audiences
Media Literacy Education in Libraries for Adult Audiences is a project of the American Library Association designed to support libraries in their efforts to improve the media literacy skills of adults in their communities. Through the work of a diverse group of thought leaders, the project has created the free media literacy resources available on this page.
This project was conducted by the ALA Public Programs Office in collaboration with Knology, a social science think tank. It was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant number LG-13-19-0089-19.
Questions? Email publicprograms@ala.org.
Media Literacy for Adults: Architecture of the Internet aims to continue the work started by the above-mentioned IMLS-funded project, Media Literacy: Education in Libraries for Adult Audiences.
There is a critical need for media literacy resources that can be readily used by libraries to help adult community members better assess online information. Project advisors have created a guide of program models and tools for libraries that can be used to help adults understand how the unseen aspects of the internet influence the information they see or don’t see on social media and online searches. Resources developed will help adult community members better determine reliable information online in order to make informed decisions about civic participation, their health, and more.
Free Resources
A free download with strategies for library staff. This guide includes resources and ideas to plan programs and activities to teach media literacy skills to adults and to integrate these skills into programming already in place at libraries.
A free download for library workers to help adult patrons understand the unseen aspects of the internet. The guide contains sample program models, background information on the history of the internet, explorations and resources.
Media Literacy for Adults: Architecture of the Internet Project Advisors
Webinars
Additional Resources
Additional Resources for Adults
- Post-Truth: Fake News and a New Era of Information Literacy with Dr. Nicole A. Cooke (recorded 2/22/17)
- The Facts: Fighting Fake News in the Pandemic by Sarah Ostman (published 3/19/20)
Additional Resources for Teens/Children
- How to Spot Fake News: High School Lesson Plan by Diana Laughlin (published 3/5/20)
- It's Never Too Early: Media Literacy in Children’s Programming with Dorothy Stoltz and Claudia Haines (recorded 9/18/19)
- Deepfakes: What They Are, Why They Matter by Donna Mignardi and Jennifer Sturge (published 10/14/19)
- Information and Media Literacy for Students: Programming Ideas by Donna Mignardi and Jennifer Sturge (published 6/3/19)
- The Truth Is Out There: Fact-Checking Resources for Students by Donna Mignardi and Jennifer Sturge (published 11/16/18)
