Garoufallou, Emmanouel, et al. “Digital Skills and Information Literacy for Librarians.” Academic Libraries: Accelerating Research and Development, Enriching Academic Life, Library and Information Center, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 27-29 Nov. 2023
Abstract
The conditions in the post-Covid era, as well as other global crises, such as military conflict on the borders of Europe (Russian–Ukrainian war) constitute the problem with the spread of unreliable content even more sharpened because of the unsatisfactory level of information literacy skills work. Education and media and information literacy is the best approach to dealing with fake news in order to tackle the worst cases of fake news in the post-war era of truth. The training in dealing with fake news and disinformation will result in the reduction of political and public of controversies, will also increase the level of trust in democracy and the societies and will contribute to a healthier environment (figuratively and literally). It is also important to emphasize the need for training – artificial intelligence literacy, as well as applications such as Chat-GPT where they have appeared they create a disturbance in the academic community and additional difficulties in managing technologies at such level. The information landscape is changing rapidly and drastically, including how academic information is published and shared. Librarians have the ability to determine the range of available
sources/information and how to critically choose them for academic study and research. There is a need for specialized personnel, especially information literacy specialists, such as library staff, to acquire skills for effectively and efficiently search, locate, retrieve and use the right information at the right time. In this context, we will present a new project, under the name “NEDLib” and collaboration between six partners. Partners are from Europe institutions: the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (Sofia, Bulgaria), the National Library of Latvia (Riga), the General Directorate of Archives and Libraries of Portugal (Lisbon), the Global Libraries – Bulgaria Foundation (NGO in Sofia), the National Association of Librarians and Public Libraries from Romania and the Department of Library, Archives and Systems Information Agency of Thessaloniki (IHU). They will provide the appropriate training for professional librarians through a series actions and summer schools.