Information Responsibility

In a world of high tech, librarians today have an even heavier responsibility in carrying out their duties. Besides providing unimpeded, uncensored information, we need to be accurate as well. It was once said ‘the pen is mightier than the sword.’ When we read something in print we tend to believe it as being true. There is a proverb that says something to the effect of, whoever tells the story first tends to be believed as telling the truth – whether they are or not. Wars and historical events have risen and fallen based on what someone has written.

In teaching college students, I have included how one can determine if a webpage is accurate in making them internet-savvy. A good example of this is the IRS refund emails that are circulating, with website attached. The real IRS symbols are used as well as legitimate words that should take you to government links. But in just a few short minutes of investigation one can tell this is not a true government site. “…be wise as serpents, harmless as doves.”

All this to say: – last week I posted the article on Starbucks. Well, I found out that at least two people read my blog. Maybe you are one of the two. If you’re not, did you believe what was posted? Did you forward it on to someone else without verifying it? Do you know if it is true or not? Two people commented on the story as being false, as substantiated by Snopes.com. No one else commented one way or the other. This story is being circulated by email forwards by well meaning citizens who themselves took what they read as gospel. “Why would someone write something like that if it weren’t true,” you might think. That’s a very good question. And as librarians it behooves us to make sure that we not only provided uncensored, timely information but also accurate information.

This little experiment proves that we all sometimes fall down on the job one time or another. If it’s not this situation, it may be another. Some were on top of their game and checked things out for themselves. But others I suspect either believed it or at least don't bother to see what was true and what wasn't. Beware, Be Accurate, Be Professional.