Pricing
- Lyrasis Member: $0
- Group Member: $75
- Nonmember: $95
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Class Description
This webinar is based on research examining how library guides at R1 universities address the evaluation of government websites and the potential misinterpretation of their reliability based solely on a .gov domain. Library education traditionally emphasizes the authority of government sources; this research reveals that many universities go beyond authority to imply that .gov resources are inherently trustworthy.
When analyzing library guides and tutorials from 187 R1 Carnegie Classified universities to assess the language used to describe .gov sources findings show that 33 universities (17.6%) included language suggesting government websites were inherently trustworthy, with some guides even stating that .gov websites are “impartial” and “unbiased.” Additionally, 73 R1 universities (39%) used common source evaluation tools like the CRAAP method, with either this exact language or similar, “what is the top-level domain e.g. .com (companies), .gov (government), .org (non-profit organization), .edu (educational)?” Students are told there is some meaning to a domain but left without context to understand why. This highlights the need for libraries to move beyond the assumption that government websites are always authoritative and instead teach students to evaluate all sources critically, regardless of domain.
The findings of this research underscore the evolving role of information literacy professionals in addressing mis- and disinformation on government websites. The webinar will examine the history of URL endings, what they mean for researchers, and question how librarians teach the evaluation of non-academic and government sources.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this class, students will be able to:
- Identify what is indicated by URL endings (.com, .org, .edu, .gov),
- Articulate what we mean by “reliable” specifically regarding URL endings, and
- Examine our own information literacy teachings and shortcuts/evaluative tools to better prepare patrons to look at all information critically, even information from a .gov or .edu website.
Instructor
Katie Delezenski is a Research and Instructional Librarian at Salisbury University in Maryland. Katie earned her MLIS from Syracuse University and her undergraduate degree in political science from Towson University. In addition to her duties in research and instruction, Katie also serves as the Open Educational Resources Librarian. A stereotypical millennial, her research interests are usually motivated by the question “but y tho?” And while no one ever asks anymore, her favorite dinosaur is an Ankylosaurus.
Lyrasis Learning events are delivered using the Zoom videoconferencing platform and will have AI-generated captions available. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request. If you need ASL or other accommodations to support your participation in the course, please contact us at es@lyrasis.org at least 2 weeks in advance of the event or as soon as possible.