This blog post was coauthored by Patricia Ullmer, AHIP, and Amanda Haberstroh, AHIP.
The Medical Library Association Books Panel is seeking author(s) and/or editor(s) for a book related to determining the credibility and trustworthiness of information. The panel also welcomes a book that contributes to the discussion on the information-seeking behavior of major user populations. How does this behavior guide teaching practices? (Example, if nurses are known for seeking answers from their peers instead of seeking answers from information resources, then what teaching methods should be used that resonate with the culture of nursing community?) What teaching methods are more effective for specific user populations?
Chapters in this book will provide an overview of types of information and ways to employ critical reasoning skills. This book will also act as a how-to guide for those in libraries who are interested in learning more about applying critical reasoning skills to information and in educating library users on critical reasoning skills, so they are well-informed and well-prepared consumers of information.
Possible chapter topics include:
- Introduction to notions of credibility, validity, and trustworthiness of information
- Determining source credibility
- Types of information: trustworthy, misinformation, and disinformation
- Applying critical reasoning skills
- Teaching critical reasoning skills to college students
- Teaching critical reasoning skills to nurses
- Teaching critical reasoning skills in graduate medical education
- Teaching critical reasoning skills to researchers
- Teaching critical reasoning skills to the public
- Common logical fallacies employed in misinformation
- How to locate sources for credible information
- And more!
Please consider the list above as a jumping-off point rather than a prescriptive list.
You may write the book by yourself, or edit the book and seek contributions from other librarians or information professionals. We describe the submission process at Publish a Book with MLA. To begin the process, submit your completed Step One form to Jamie Birkner at MLA (jamie.birkner@mlahq.org). If the Step One is approved by the MLA Books Panel and copublisher, you will be asked to submit a Step Two. If you have questions about serving as the editor or the author of the entire volume, please contact Jamie Birkner. We cannot consider contributions of individual chapters at this time.
Do you have an idea for a book on a topic other than information trustworthiness? The Books Panel welcomes proposals on any topic likely to be of interest to health sciences librarians; simply fill in the Step One form and submit it to jamie.birkner@mlahq.org. More information on the publication process is available at Publish a Book with MLA