Media Literacy in the Library: A Guide for Library Practitioners

As information providers and hubs for lifelong learning, libraries have always been resources for helping communities develop media literacy skills. Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, and in an age when we increasingly rely on digital media for information and communication, these critical thinking skills are more important than ever. The American Library Association (ALA), working with talented thought leaders across the library and media literacy sectors, has created Media Literacy in the Library: A Guide for Library Practitioners to help library workers prepare for day-to-day interactions like the imagined reference desk one above.

In this guide, we offer resources and ideas to plan programs and activities to teach media literacy skills to adults and also to integrate these skills into programming you already offer at your library. This guide has been created for out-of-school adult audiences, who library workers will generally meet in a public library context.