I work with several community groups on a regular basis in volunteer roles.  Last spring, I was asked to present a 20 minute presentation on information literacy, specifically on how to identify misinformation.  Part of the reason that I was asked to take on that task was because in our social media groups, there were folks who were not intentionally, I hope, but unknowingly sharing memes, articles, videos, and more that had a seed (or maybe just a kernel) of truth, but would be what Stephen Colbert so aptly coined many years ago, as “truthiness.” I did my presentation, for a while things got better, and then like every one and done event, the memes, half truths, and downright just not true started clogging up the groups again.  This got me thinking about how important it is, as a school librarian, to partner in the community and ensure that there are opportunities for information literacy to be shared throughout the community. 

We have to go beyond our students and school community and extend instruction beyond the library walls by partnering with families, local organizations, and community leaders.  School librarians can reinforce and teach essential skills while building trust and visibility for the school library program. I see it as a win-win situation.  You get to make your library program more visible while helping community members be less vulnerable to misinformation.

Digital citizenship and information literacy are most effective when students receive consistent messages across environments. When families, after-school programs, and community organizations understand the same concepts, such as evaluating sources, recognizing misinformation, and practicing responsible online behavior, students are more likely to apply these skills authentically. After all, if the adults in their lives are not practicing these things, how can we expect our students to practice them? 

Start with Families: Build Shared Language and Understanding

Families often want to help but may feel overwhelmed by rapidly changing technology and media platforms. School librarians can serve as approachable guides.

Getting Started Ideas:

  • Host family workshops or webinars on topics like spotting misinformation, understanding algorithms, or managing digital footprints. Keep sessions short, free of technical school-type jargon, and practical.
  • Create take-home guides or newsletters with tips families can use during everyday moments such as watching videos together, checking news stories, or discussing viral trends.
  • Offer conversation starters families can use with children, such as “How do you know this is true?” or “Who made this and why?”
  • Share fact checking websites with families and community members.

These efforts help families and our community see digital citizenship as an ongoing conversation, not a one-time lesson or something that happens just in school. It becomes less of a topic to be avoided. It can help provide clear language around the skills needed to navigate information. 

Partner with Public Libraries and Community Centers

Public libraries, community centers, community organizations, and youth organizations are natural allies. Many already offer technology access and informal learning opportunities. 

Getting Started Ideas:

  • Co-host information literacy workshops for senior citizens, working adults, teens, and more. They can be face to face or online in order to provide more opportunity for people to participate.
  • Collaborate with the public library on summer learning programs focused on media literacy, research skills, or creative digital projects.
  • Share curated resource lists so community members can reinforce the same evaluation strategies students learn at school ( and learn them too).

Engage Local Experts and Organizations

Digital citizenship is not just about avoiding harm: it’s also about participation, voice, and civic engagement. Local journalists, nonprofit leaders, and technology professionals (think the IT security folks who can teach about not falling for spammy emails and phishing) can get involved and help create real and relevant experiences for the community.

Getting Started Ideas:

 

  • Partner with civic organizations to explore how digital media influences elections, activism, or community issues. (League of Women Voters comes to mind)
  • Work with law enforcement or legal professionals to address topics like online safety, privacy, and digital rights in age-appropriate ways.

These experiences help the entire community see information literacy as a life skill, not just something that happens in schools. When the community is involved it’s more than a single school librarian sharing the importance of these skills. 

Use Student Voice as a Community Resource

Students themselves can be incredible teachers. When students demonstrate digital citizenship skills publicly, it reinforces learning and builds confidence.

Getting Started Ideas:

  • Support students in creating public service announcements, posters, or videos about evaluating information or being responsible online.
  • Showcase student work at school events, community nights, or local libraries.
  • Encourage students to lead peer or family mini-sessions, explaining how they verify sources or navigate online spaces safely.

 

  • Work with your service learning (or student volunteer coordinator) to find ways for students to work with senior citizens to teach these digital skills.

Use Existing Community Events

You don’t need to create everything from scratch. Look for opportunities to embed information literacy into events that already exist. There are lots of events at the public library and in other spaces where you could have a table or an activity.  Our community has a summer fest each weekend in the summer, and this summer I’m asking for a table to do an information literacy activity with a prize for those who stop and participate. I kind of picture it as a quiz type activity for now – I’m still noodling it around. 

Getting Started Ideas:

  • Set up a digital citizenship table at back-to-school nights, health fairs, or literacy events.
  • Offer short “micro-lessons” during PTA meetings or community gatherings.
  • Share quick tips or QR-linked resources rather than full presentations to reduce time barriers.

Small, consistent activities can have a big cumulative impact.

Final Thoughts

Digital citizenship and information literacy are not optional extras for our communities! I would argue that they are more important now than ever. These skills  are foundational skills for navigating today’s world. By working in partnership with families and community organizations, school librarians can extend learning beyond the classroom and bring it into the community where we can reinforce critical thinking, and help students, caregivers, and community members become more informed, ethical participants in digital spaces.

After all, we want our communities to be vibrant, safe places to think, create, share, and grow and we can do that by building the knowledge of our entire community.  And I always ask myself if I’m not the one sharing, who will? So, how are you going to make a positive impact on your community when it comes to information literacy and digital citizenship?