If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that information literacy is a critical ingredient in informed democracies, but that we have a long way to go in building that skill across our population. As we look ahead to the coming year, we tried to ascertain what themes would emerge in the library field as a response to the rapidly-changing landscape. Here are 3 emerging trends we’re seeing that warrant attention in 2017:

After two weeks of following the story of Macedonian “fake news” sites and Facebook’s editorial responsibilities, we wanted to discuss the fact that fake news is only part of the problem. Discerning real information from biased misinformation is a growing challenge in the 21st century.

A growing number of Americans are getting their news from social media (Pew Research Poll), and increasingly, disreputable news sites are using these platforms to distribute fake news for financial profit. A key tenet of information literacy has always been the ability to evaluate sources, however the increased sophistication of fake news sites means that this skill is more important than ever.

A growing number of Americans are getting their news from social media sites like Facebook and Twitter according to a recent poll from Pew Research. At the same time, NPR and others are reporting this month that a proliferation of fake news sites have to come into being that use the viral nature of social media to drive ad revenue.

According to a report form the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, "nearly 60% of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not ready for postsecondary studies."

Topical world subjects examined objectively – ideal for students, librarians

Content can now be customized to meet students’ needs

BOSTON, Sept. 27, 2016 – Credo, the industry leader for information literacy, critical thinking, and research solutions, announced today it has introduced new content for its InfoLit Modules, as well as a dramatically upgraded platform that enables instructional customization. Credo’s InfoLit Modules – a mix of videos, tutorials, and assessments – are a library of ready-to-use instructional assets to support librarians in teaching information literacy and research skills.

October 6th and 7th will mark the first ever Credo Education User Summit and Building Learning Communities Forum in Raleigh, NC. Existing and potential Courseware customers are invited to explore innovative ways to build stronger learning communities. Dr. Alison Head of Project Information Literacy will keynote Day 1 of the summit with, "What Happens to Learning After College?" On Day 2, Dr. Brent Keltner of Credo Education will present, "Skills for the New Economy." See the full schedule here.

It's no secret that retention is one of the driving factors when it comes to success in higher ed today. We know that retention is tied in with how well students perform, and that accurate assessment is instrumental in identifying gaps and cultivating student skills. Next month Credo will host librarians from Mount Saint Mary College as they provide the real world examples and outcomes of how they were able to harness some of the most innovative technology to boost learning outcomes and retention.