The university of washington information school will develop and implement a comprehensive program for libraries that aims to foster greater understanding and resilience to misinformation

The University of Washington Information School will develop and deploy a comprehensive library misinformation program under a $249,691 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services' National Leadership Grants program. Through this one-year award beginning September 2021, the University will create an online escape room hosted by librarians to improve libraries' capacities for addressing misinformation. Specifically, the University will deploy a tested escape room prototype in 10 public libraries, produce a design kit allowing libraries to develop additional escape rooms, and host two co-design camps around topics of Black Lives Matter and fandom to demonstrate use of the kit for creating interest-driven escape rooms. A broad dissemination effort is also included. If successful, this work could advance practice in combating the spread of misinformation through innovative library programming.

By building and deploying an online escape room hosted by librarians, the grant will improve libraries? Capacities to address misinformation through innovative educational programming. The project team will deploy a tested escape room prototype in 10 public libraries, create a design kit that allows libraries to develop other escape rooms, run two CO-design camps around black lives matter and fandom to demonstrate use of the design kit for creating interest-driven escape rooms, and undertake a broad dissemination campaign.