It’s Erin, the Branch Manager from Brewerton, popping in again to deliver context on the newest library-related stories and updates.
On October 10th, TrueMedia.org released a newsletter update announcing that their deepfake detection toolkit is now freely available for public use. TrueMedia.org is a suite of AI detection tools (some of them AIs themselves) that are harnessed to determine with what certainty a piece of media, whether it is a picture, video, or soundbite, has been faked. One goal of TrueMedia.org is to prevent elections from losing legitimacy. TrueMedia.org allows users to upload posts from social media sites to analyze for faked features. Librarians are advocates for knowing the source of information that their communities are reading and using for research and decision-making. TrueMedia.org is making some of that detective work easier. Check it out for yourself at TrueMedia.org.
In addition to saving communities from misinformation, library workers are also saving lives! The American Library Association (ALA) published two press releases about this. The first recounts the efforts of the ALA to support libraries and communities affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. A spokesperson for the ALA writes, “Libraries are not just buildings; they are vital community institutions that provide refuge, distribute essential resources, and connect individuals to the information they need to navigate crises.” This is a heartening sentiment and I know it is true, as evidenced in this second press release, titled, “White House recognizes libraries’ efforts to save lives from overdose.” I have received NARCAN training and resources from the Onondaga County Public Library (OCPL) and I know that training has been consequential for library workers to protect people in our communities. Libraries regularly present health-related education and resource programs too. Our own NOPL Cicero will host the Upstate University Hospital Mobile Mammogram Unit on November 19. (Click HERE for details on how to sign up.) I think this is a good representation of the various ways library workers provide information that community members need to navigate crises, whether they affect communities, families or individuals. Library workers are superheroes!
Speaking of family crises, the archived version of the Business Insider article titled, “The Boomer Stuff Avalanche” states that, “Many millennials, Gen Xers, and Gen Zers are now facing the question of what to do with their parents’ and grandparents’ possessions as their loved ones downsize or die…The process can be arduous, overwhelming, and painful.” Libraries are helping directly and indirectly with this (hopefully) non-life-threatening family conundrum. Many libraries take items such as books, DVDs, and sometimes CDs that no longer fit into the lives of those downsizing or dealing with loss. Additionally, libraries can help find places for unwanted items to go, serving as a connection between community members, organizations, and businesses. Libraries provide internet-connected computers so that patrons can list and sell unwanted but still valuable items to others online. I have even seen a personal exchange (likely of the Facebook Marketplace-type) transpire in a library parking lot, and I get it; library parking lots are largely safe as they are public spaces that are community focused and often have cameras, just in case. Library workers are happy to help, and they might just save your life!
