ALA, in collaboration with the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University, invites public libraries to apply for Media Literacy @ Your Library, a pilot program that will train library workers to help their adult patrons become better news consumers.
In this six-month learning and prototyping project, ALA and the Center for News Literacy will work with teams from five public libraries to adapt existing media literacy training materials to serve the needs of public librarians and the communities they serve.
The cohort teams will attend an in-person training and use their skills to conduct related adult public programs in their communities. Team members will also provide feedback on the training and serve as advisers to, and beta testers for, the development of a corresponding web-based curriculum for the library field.
Read the guidelines for Media Literacy @ Your Library or apply online to be part of the cohort. Applications must be received by Sept. 11, 2017.
Selected libraries will receive:
- An intensive six-month experience that will include training and support for a three-person library team to develop and implement media literacy programming for adult patrons.
- $1,500 for program-related expenses, such as travel, promotion and public programming costs.
- In-person media literacy workshop training, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in Chicago.
- Two nights’ hotel lodging and some meals at the in-person workshop for three library representatives. (Note that travel costs to Chicago are at the library’s expense or must be paid from the $1,500 stipend.)
- Communications support, access to a community of practice, and technical and programming support.
Media Literacy @ Your Library is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Democracy Fund and the Rita Allen Foundation. The project is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office.
