In an era of record-low trust in media and the proliferation of "AI slop," many library patrons have moved beyond healthy skepticism into information nihilism—the belief that because some information is biased, no information can be trusted. This shift presents a unique challenge for librarians: How do we teach critical thinking and evaluation skills without accidentally fueling deep-seated cynicism?
Join our panel of experts as we explore the "messiness of expertise" and share actionable coaching strategies to move patrons from the "everything is fake" mindset toward a productive hopeful skepticism. We will discuss:
- Navigating High-Tension Conversations: Strategies for engaging patrons who reject traditional sources of authority.
- Instructional Frameworks: Evaluating the effectiveness of frameworks like SIFT in the age of generative AI.
- Empowerment over Despair: Helping patrons embrace ambiguity and uncertainty without throwing all journalists and scientists "under the bus."
- Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships: Suggestions for leveraging expertise from experts and colleagues to combat both naive acceptance or nihilistic opposition.
Attendees will leave with practical conversation strategies and resources to help their communities reclaim a sense of agency in a complex information landscape.
