Category Archives: News

Distinguishing between factual and untrue news sources

Posted on by

There were several untrue news stories circulating on social media during the recent U.S. presidential election.  It’s important to determine whether stories and news sources are reliable and accurate.  Librarians at Northern Essex Community College Library in Massachusetts created and shared this useful resource guide: http://necc.mass.libguides.com/fakenewsvsrealnews/fakenews

Fake News Story Infographic, Huffington Post

Fake News Story Infographic, published by The Huffington Post, by Nick Robins-Early, 11/22/16

This guide links to helpful articles, videos, case studies, fact checking sites, and suggests tips for evaluating news stories.  If you have questions or need help determining whether a source is reliable, feel free to ask your friendly librarians.  We’re always glad to help you find accurate information.

Sources for more information:

The Chronicle of Higher Education: “Meet the Professor Who’s Trying to Help You Steer Clear of Clickbait:” http://www.chronicle.com/article/Meet-the-Professor-Who-s/238441

False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” Sources by Melissa Zimdars, Assistant Professor of Communication at Merrimack College: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10eA5-mCZLSS4MQY5QGb5ewC3VAL6pLkT53V_81ZyitM/preview

NPR: “Students Have ‘Dismaying’ Inability To Tell Fake News From Real, Study Finds”: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/23/503129818/study-finds-students-have-dismaying-inability-to-tell-fake-news-from-real 

Huffington Post: “How To Recognize A Fake News Story: 9 helpful tips to stop yourself from sharing false information:” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fake-news-guide-facebook_us_5831c6aae4b058ce7aaba169

School Library Journal: “Truth, truthiness, triangulation: A news literacy toolkit for a “post-truth” world:” http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2016/11/26/truth-truthiness-triangulation-and-the-librarian-way-a-news-literacy-toolkit-for-a-post-truth-world/

 

 

 

 

Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week

Posted on by
Banned Books Week graphic

Image from: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek

Banned Books Week is an annual event which celebrates the freedom to read. Librarians, booksellers, publishers, and teachers across the country unite during Banned Books Week to oppose censorship and ensure free access to information and books.

Visit our library’s display window to see some of the frequently challenged books from schools and libraries over the last few years. Feel free to check one out! Visit the American Library Association’s (ALA) list of the most frequently challenged books and learn the reasons why they are challenged in libraries and schools: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks. 

Come by the library desk to pick up a fun bookmark with the ALA’s superhero graphic and defend your freedom to read!

 

It’s National Library Week!

Posted on by

Yellow rectangle with the words "Because of you libraries transform"National Library Week is April 10th-16th.  This year’s theme is “Libraries Transform.”

Over the week, we’ll be digitally unveiling our new posters featuring Durham Tech students about ways that the Durham Tech libraries are here to help you transform into your most successful self. The posters will also be on display by the end of the week around our campus libraries for you to see in person.  Come on in and check them out*!

*Figuratively– these posters are not to be taken out of the library, but you’re more than welcome to take a book or DVD home!

 

We’re inspired by Marley Dias and her campaign for diverse children’s books

Posted on by

Marley Dias, age 11, is an inspiration!  When she got frustrated by the lack of diversity in her school’s required reading, she did something about it. One evening at dinner, she spoke to her mom about her frustration.  “I told her I was sick of reading about white boys and dogs,” Dias said, pointing specifically to “Where the Red Fern Grows” and the “Shiloh” series. Dias’ activist mother helped her realize that she could do something about it. Marley told her mother that she was “going to start a book drive, and a specific book drive, where black girls are the main characters in the book and not the background characters or minor characters.”

Marley Dias

Photo of Marley Dias, from Janice Dias for The Philly Voice

Quotes and information from: Philly Voice interview.

To hear Marley talk about her campaign, listen to her wonderful interview on National Public Radio.

For further information or to contribute to her campaign, visit her website: http://welovebam.com/1000-black-girl-books/

 

 

Banned Books Week… and why it matters

Posted on by

BBW-logo122h

Every year, the American Library Association, libraries, bookstores, and other groups and places “celebrate” Banned Books Week the last week in September.  While people may object to books based on topic or personal taste, Banned Books Week at its core is about celebrating and promoting the right to read and discouraging blanket censorship of literature based on its subject-matter or presentation.

To check out some books that are frequently challenged and why, see the library displays in the Main and Orange County Campus Libraries.  If you want, check out a challenged book.  Judge for yourself.

Starting the New Semester Successfully

Posted on by

Welcome back! In honor of starting the new semester with success in mind, this week, we’ll be posting some tips for success both for faculty, staff, and students!

Look for upcoming tips on academic success, digital tools to organize your academic and personal life, and other ways to start the semester out on a positive note!

Good luck!

Success Baby Meme

And some library business: Please note that starting on Monday, August 24 all students will need an updated or current student ID in order to enter the library.  Student IDs can be obtained in security offices on all campuses.  Thanks!