Contribution of academic libraries in addressing misinformation pre and post Covid-19 through user education programmes

Abstract

In the rapidly evolving landscape of information dissemination, academic libraries play a pivotal role in combating misinformation, particularly in the context of the pre and post-COVID-19 pandemic period. This is shown in this chapter through a mixed-methods approach, combining a comprehensive review of existing literature with insights gathered from librarians to provide a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges posed by misinformation. This study investigates the contribution of academic libraries in mitigating the impact of misinformation through user education programmes, encompassing library instruction and information literacy initiatives. The findings of the study reveal the roles of librarians, educators, and policymakers in fostering information literacy skills and combating misinformation, as well as contribute to the ongoing dialogue on the vital role they play in empowering users to discern credible information from misinformation in the context of the period of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.