Social inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers includes addressing their information needs. This research seeks to examine the role of public libraries in this process through the analysis of public librarians’ perceptions. Based on the constructivist paradigm, the case study method, and the semi-directive interview survey technique, 16 public municipal libraries in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Portugal) are studied. The results highlight that these libraries do not identify forced migrants as their users. Still, they consider that the information needs and behaviors and the use of libraries by these communities are similar to those of economic migrants, with emphasis on the relevance of free access to the internet, foreign language resources, Portuguese language and digital literacy courses, and help to interact with online platforms. The gaps include the existence of few Portuguese courses for foreigners, a limited practice in assisting with job and housing searches, promoting health literacy, and inclusive collaboration with schools, as well as space, financial, and human resources constraints. To overcome these difficulties, librarians emphasize the motivation to fulfill the inclusive social mission of the public library, the universal accessibility and informal environment of the library, and its action to promote social cohesion and social capital. The respondents consider that the mission of public libraries is adjusted to the goal of social inclusion of forced migrants, but that there is room for improvement in the training of librarians. This research points to the need for more initiative-taking public library collaboration with existing inclusion networks. In conclusion, we seek to alert to the urgency of the involvement of Portuguese public libraries in the social inclusion of forced migrants, which will also contribute to their institutional legitimization.

The social inclusion of forced migrants includes responding to their information needs. This investigation seeks to analyze public librarians' perceptions of the role of public libraries in such process. The research framework is the constructivist paradigm and uses the case study method to, through the semi-directive interview technique, investigate sixteen municipal public libraries in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The results highlight that forced migrants are not identified users of these libraries. However, public librarians equate them to economic migrants in informational needs and behaviors, highlighting the importance of free internet access, the resources in foreign languages, the Portuguese language courses, and the help to interact with online platforms. As shortcomings, there are few Portuguese courses for foreigners, limited practice in job search, housing and inclusive collaboration with schools, and limitations in terms of space and human and financial resources. These difficulties can be overcome with the motivation to fulfil the public library's inclusive social mission, its universal accessibility and informal environment, and the promotions of cohesion and social capital. While the mission of libraries fits the purpose of forced migrants’ inclusion, the education and training of librarians could be improved. It is recommended that the public libraries increase their proactivity and collaboration with existing inclusion networks. In conclusion, this research aims to raise awareness of the urgency of developing a strategic plan for Portuguese public libraries for the social inclusion of forced migrants, and to promote its institutional and social legitimacy.

In a world of information overload and data deluge, is opening science a research library’s duty? Or is the openness of science deeply changing libraries, ultimately converting them into something else? The purpose of the review is to highlight the challenging issues stemming from the relationship between research and libraries. A broad literature analysis was performed focused on the intersection of three different perspectives: (1) the future of research libraries, (2) the emerging new roles, and (3) the ongoing openness of science. Libraries are still at the heart of science but challenged by several stakeholders within the complexity of present science production and communication. Research support services, research data management, or research information management are emerging roles, among others, sustaining an open path where libraries thrive to be more collaborative while looking forward to establishing new partnerships.

How are scientists coping with misinformation and disinformation? Focusing on the triangle scientists/mis-disinformation/behaviour, this study aims to systematically review the literature to answer three research questions: What are the main approaches described in the literature concerning scientists’ behaviour towards mis-disinformation? Which techniques or strategies are discussed to tackle information disorder? Is there a research gap in including scientists as subjects of research projects concerning information disorder tackling strategies? Following PRISMA 2020 statement, a checklist and flow diagram for reporting systematic reviews, a set of 14 documents was analysed. Findings revealed that the literature might be interpreted following Wilson and Maceviciute’s model as creation, acceptance and dissemination categories. Crossing over these categories, we advanced three standing points to analyse scientists’ positions towards mis-disinformation: inside, inside-out and outside-in. The stage ‘Creation/facilitation’ was the least present in our sample, but ‘Use/rejection/acceptance’ and ‘Dissemination’ were depicted in the literature retrieved. Most of the literature approaches were about inside-out perspectives, meaning that the topic is mainly studied concerning communication issues. Regarding the strategies against the information disorder, findings suggest that preventive and reactive strategies are simultaneously used. A strong appeal to a multidisciplinary effort against mis-disinformation is widely present, but there is a gap in including scientists as subjects of research projects.

La pandemia de COVID-19 puso de manifiesto la importancia de la calidad y la fiabilidad de la información de salud, especialmente la que consumen a diario los ciudadanos a través de Facebook y otras redes sociales digitales. Los estudios sobre el comportamiento informacional no pueden ignorar que el feed de noticias de Facebook emerge como un canal de información para muchos individuos, que leen y comparten información sobre salud con diferentes propósitos, incluyendo noticias falsas y fuentes de desinformación, ignorando los criterios básicos de evaluación o las estrategias de comprobación de hechos. Este artículo pretende analizar los resultados de la investigación sobre el comportamiento hacia la información de salud online a través de las redes sociales digitales, centrándose en Facebook, en el periodo más intenso de la crisis pandémica y el fenómeno de la desinformación. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica a partir de 51 trabajos recientes (entre 2020-2021) con los siguientes objetivos: conocer el comportamiento informacional online en el contexto de los medios sociales; evaluar el panorama de la información de salud falsa o distorsionada que se transmite a través de Facebook; y, conocer algunas propuestas para contrarrestar la infodemia provocada por la pandemia. Los resultados muestran dos enfoques de investigación dominantes: el análisis del comportamiento informacional, sobre todo de las actividades de adquisición e información compartida; y el análisis del contenido publicado, centrado en la infodemia, el comportamiento social y las estrategias de comunicación de las autoridades de salud pública. A pesar de la preocupación por la desinformación, la investigación revela un escenario todavía incierto con vistas a encontrar soluciones para contrarrestar este grave problema de salud pública.

O objetivo deste estudo é rever sistematicamente a literatura para identificar as práticas mais recentes das bibliotecas contra as fake news. Resultados prévios mostraram que a maioria dos estudos enfatiza as práticas das bibliotecas do ensino superior e estão principalmente centrados na formação em literacia da informação. Este artigo atualiza uma investigação anterior com o objetivo de reconhecer as práticas tangíveis das bibliotecas, discutir a sua eficiência, e continuar uma categorização dessas práticas. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura dos últimos 12 meses (Outubro 2020-Setembro 2021) para recuperar as práticas mais recentes das bibliotecas. Após a extração, com um conjunto final de 17 documentos, foi desenvolvida uma análise qualitativa em várias etapas e uma categorização. O debate atual continua em torno de estratégias de literacia da informação que pretendem reiterar uma avaliação das fontes baseada na autoridade versus o desafio de reconhecer uma reação emocional a notícias falsas num mundo de pós-verdade. O papel das bibliotecas está encurralado num quadro formativo, enquanto a desinformação invade vários ecossistemas de informação. O papel das bibliotecas na sociedade da pós-verdade é ainda um debate em aberto, mas existe quase um consenso de que as bibliotecas devem envolver-se em parcerias e fazer parte de uma abordagem multidisciplinar.