Tips help to sort the fake from the real news

Fake news comes in many forms. It may come from the relative who always dishes out the latest gossip, the misleading internet article that discredits a research paper, or a Facebook post from what appears to be a reputable source. Vetting information before sharing could save us from embarrassment or greater harm. The first step to determining whether or not to believe what we are being told (which generally comes before deciding to share it) is to authenticate the source. How do we know what is trustworthy?

Here is a quick list of tips for authenticating information that I pulled from several articles as well as life lessons.

First, ask yourself if it matters. Especially in the case of social media shares, an interesting post may not be worth sharing if it is merely amusing and potentially hazardous. TMI (too much information) is a real thing.

Take a quick peek at the sponsor, author and URL. Is it a reputable public institution? What do you learn about them when you click on their link? Also worth noting are the sources that publish under a name similar to one you know and trust. Look closely.

Look for a variety of quotes and citations from authentic sources. If there are few or none of these or the “experts” are not well known, you would do well to dig a little deeper. If an article contains links to the original sources of the quotes and citations, check them.

Know the difference between an advertisement and unbiased information. Sometimes the links mentioned above lead to a solicitation rather than an authentic information source. This is known as clickbait, a tactic designed to entice users to follow a link to another page. Follow the links to make sure the content is actually what is presented in the headline before forwarding.

Check around to see if any other reputable news sources are reporting on the topic.

As adults, we may be alerted to something that indicates a red flag for us. Yet, many of us might be surprised at how often we share or retweet questionable content. Younger ones can fall prey to fake news even more. A study reported by NPR showed that more than 80% of middle schoolers believed that “sponsored content” was a real news story. That same study, conducted by the Stanford Graduate School of Education, found that many high school students could not tell the difference between a real and fake news source on Facebook.

Although sources of information abound in this rapidly changing information age, parents, teachers and caregivers are realizing the need to enlist librarians to guide students in their process of learning to research. Search engine optimization is no substitute for a librarian. Library staff at the East Bonner County Library District are highly skilled at research and customer service. How thankful we can be that the library is not just a warehouse or search engine of random information that leaves us to navigate through fake news on our own.

Check out the classes and events schedule below to see how you can get a head start on trying something new from The Library. All take place at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar, unless otherwise noted.

East Bonner County Library District

schedule

- Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Fridays — M.A.C. (Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., Room 102. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information, 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Jan. 4 — Sandpoint Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Support your library while you support your book, movie, and music habits.

- Saturdays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay and play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays ­— Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions); 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Under 10 must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Library Book Club, 7-8 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch library, 1407 Cedar St. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Community Room A. This month we will get acquainted, introduce the club and distribute the first book, “How to Be a Patient” by Sana Goldberg, R.N., a registered nurse and public health advocate. A timely, accessible, and comprehensive handbook to navigating common medical situations. From the routine to the unexpected, “How to Be a Patient” is your ultimate guide to better healthcare. This is an adult book club, and selections may not be appropriate for those under the age of 18. There is no limit on the number of participants, however, we will only guarantee enough books for eight people. There may easily be times when we have 12 books available. If we have more participants than books, we will find a way to share or somehow accommodate participants. Information: Mike Bauer, 208-265-2665.

- Wednesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesdays — Storytime, 11:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-6. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 4 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops as space allows. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, Jan. 8 — 3D printing community, 4:30-6 p.m. in the computer area. Drop in the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month if you’re interested in 3D printing. Collaborate with others or learn more from staff about 3D printing and design. Some computer space will be reserved for the program. Open to all ages and skill levels. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1251.

- Saturday, Jan. 11 — ASL song signing and poetry, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and again at 1-2 p.m. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Community Room A. This standalone workshop will involve a participatory performance that will be a fun way to learn American Sign Language. The workshops are open to anyone regardless of level. Instructor: Susan Schaller. For more information, contact Susan Schaller at susan.schaller@gmail.com. There will be a third event in this series held on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. at the Hotel Ruby conference room (477255 N. Highway 95 in Ponderay, 208-263-5383).

- Saturday, Jan. 11 — SHS eSports at The Library, 1 p.m. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation. Making eSports available to high school gamers by facilitating healthy competition on a varsity level in a comfortable environment is the mission of the HSEL. The Library is partnering with the SHS eSports team to further that mission. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Sunday, Jan. 12 — ASL Song Signing and Poetry, 3 p.m. at the at the Hotel Ruby conference room, 477255 N. Highway 95 in Ponderay. This standalone workshop will involve a participatory performance that will be a fun way to learn American Sign Language. The workshops are open to anyone regardless of level. Instructor: Susan Schaller. For more information, contact Susan Schaller at susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Kids and Families Winter Reading Challenge — Register at ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for the second of three winter reading challenges. Our second challenge is a nationwide winter challenge sponsored by Beanstack (our online reading platform) and Penguin Random House. High participation from you could earn us a visit from kids’ author Max Brailler or other prizes from the publisher. In addition to helping the library compete nationally, kids will win free books and chances to win robots, while adults will earn chances to win free groceries. This challenge runs from January 1-31. A third challenge will follow in February. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Teen Winter Reading Challenge — Runs through Feb 29. Fun new format and great prizes. Visit ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for more information and to register. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Rotary Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., and Fridays, 2-5 p.m. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org, or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “Baking Day at Grandmas,” by Anika Denise at Dover City Park and “Cat Knit,” by Jacob Grant at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.