Title: Academic Librarians Perceptions of Digital Media Literacy Skills and Fake News Awareness in Kwara State
Author(s): MAHAMMUOD, Sulyman Olaitan; ABDULLAHI, Olayinka Isiaka; Dr. SHUAIB, Agboola Olarongbe; ADEBISI, Kolade Michael
Publication Year: 2024; Volume 19, Issue 1, pages 40-49

The impact of fake news has been catastrophic for both developing and developed nations, including those in Africa. Digital literacy equips individuals with the ability to access accurate information and comprehend the ethical principles surrounding it. For centuries, academic librarians have served as intermediaries between users and the information they need, fulfilling the roles of gatekeepers and protectors of information. The study was guided to examine academic librarians’ perception of digital media literacy skills, Find out the contributions of digital media literacy skills to academic librarians’ exposure and Find out the correlation between digital media literacy skills and fake news awareness of academic librarian. Descriptive design was used to investigate the study with 80 academic librarians from selected academic libraries in Kwara State comprising the research group which were picked randomly. The opinions of librarians were gathered through a questionnaire and analysed using quantitative methods. The study revealed that academic librarians held positive views on digital literacy skills. Based on these findings, the study concludes DMLS influences academic librarians’ perception. The study recommended that there is need for libraries and librarians to collaborate in teaching information and media literacy to their users, communities, and society as a whole.