Libraries as places of learning for dealing with disinformation

Informed citizens are essential for a vibrant democracy. It is therefore important that the population is able to distinguish between false and true information. Libraries are one of the places where this knowledge can be imparted. As open and low-threshold places of learning, they play a central role in educating the population. The handout "Democracy needs media education! Libraries as (learning) places for dealing with disinformation" from the Bertelsmann Stiftung offers practical support in this area.

The handout "Democracy needs media education!" supports professionals in integrating the topic of disinformation into their educational work and contributing to processes that promote democracy with a wide range of offers. It offers basic knowledge, practical tips, reflection questions, argumentation aids and good practice examples that professionals can adopt directly or adapt to their situation. This provides them with practical tools that they can use to reflect on their existing services and develop new, low-threshold formats. In this way, the respective target groups receive support in recognizing and countering disinformation. The handbook contains easy-to-implement ideas that can be integrated into everyday library work, as well as concepts for larger formats such as workshops or project days that can be implemented by libraries alone or together with external partners.

Whether small impulses or comprehensive offers - every measure contributes to counteracting disinformation and strengthening the democratic resilience of society. Use this guide as a toolbox. Here you will find everything you need to get started. Every library can be an important place for media education and democracy!

The brochure is published by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, Stadtbibliothek Gütersloh GmbH and Deutscher Bibliotheksverband e. V. (German Library Association). The texts in the publication were written by authors from the JFF and klicksafe.