The Power of Librarians in a World of 'Alternative Facts'

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If the role of the library is to create more informed citizens, then flagging and combating "fake news" could be the perfect task for librarians living in an era of "alternative facts" and half truths.

Mike Barker, director of academy research, information and library services at Phillips Academy, and Gosia Stergios, associate director of academy research at Phillips Academy, would like to see a network of librarians deployed across the country to work as the nation's official fact checkers.

Stergios and Barker also believe librarians could effectively partner with the likes of Facebook, Google, and Twitter to improve the quality of information shared online.