News Access and Media Literacy in Public Libraries

Public libraries are playing an increasingly important role in helping communities navigate today’s complex information landscape. From supporting access to trustworthy news sources to helping patrons build critical media literacy skills, library workers are meeting growing needs amid rapidly changing technologies, formats, and user behaviors.

Join the Public Library Association (PLA) and PressReader for a webinar exploring key findings from the new report, News Access and Media Literacy in Public Libraries. Based on survey responses from more than 900 library workers, the report examines how public libraries are supporting news access and media literacy, the challenges they face, and where future investment may have the greatest impact.

During this webinar, we’ll discuss:

Key trends in how patrons access and engage with news and information
Common barriers to digital news access and media literacy support
The evolving role of library staff in helping patrons evaluate information
Practical strategies and opportunities for strengthening services in your library
Whether you are developing formal media literacy programming or supporting patrons through everyday interactions, this session will offer data, insights, and practical takeaways to help inform your work.

Who Should Attend
Public library staff, administrators, educators, and anyone interested in media literacy, digital access, and community information services.