Challenging Trustworthy Social Media Information: Challenges Faced by Librarians in Their Professional Practice

The rapid spread of information on social media poses a serious threat to librarians who provide truthful information. The study aims to investigate the issues that Filipino librarians face in relation to social media information and intends to describe the work-related and personal challenges and how these challenges influence their professional practice. Employing a thematic analysis of interview data, the research meticulously categorizes and interprets the librarians’ narratives, subsequently conducting a detailed content analysis. Participants were selected using purposive sampling from the National Library’s list. Data was analyzed using NVivo 14 (1.7.1), a qualitative data analysis (QDA) computer software package. Librarians face considerable challenges, particularly concerning the consequences for their personal and professional spheres, and the rigorous demands of effective information evaluation in an era characterized by information overload and widespread misinformation. Several librarians expressed concern that false information is becoming a hurdle for the profession. This study addresses the novel challenge of information disorders proliferating on social media, focusing on the lived experiences of Filipino public librarians.