Call for Participants: UBC Study on Intellectual Freedom and Medical Disinformation
June 13, 2022
Researchers at the University of British Columbia, in partnership with BCLA, are conducting a study titled, “Balancing intellectual freedom and medical disinformation in Canadian libraries.”
Canadian libraries have long been supporters and defenders of intellectual freedom. They enact this value in collection management as well as public services ranging from reference and information services to library programming and rentals of library spaces.
Certain types of materials have always posed challenges to intellectual freedom ideals, with disinformation—for example, holocaust denial literature, speakers, or groups—among the most difficult to navigate, due to the real potential for such information to cause harm.
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised attention to issues of medical misinformation and disinformation. Accordingly, libraries have faced difficult decisions regarding how to balance issues of intellectual freedom and stemming the tide of health disinformation on pandemic-related topics including anti-vaccine materials and false information about alleged “cures” for COVID-19, as well as other medical subjects such as the idea that “rapid onset gender dysphoria” is afflicting adolescents.
We are seeking volunteer interview participants to help us understand how Canadian libraries and library workers have been negotiating these difficult topics, and what considerations might exist for different types of libraries in diverse communities across the country.
To be eligible for an interview, you must:
- Live in Canada;
- Be at least 19 years old;
- Work or have previously worked in a Canadian library;
- Have experienced challenges related to intellectual freedom and/or medical disinformation in your role or job with a Canadian library; and
- Be able to complete an online or telephone interview in English.
Participation involves a brief demographic survey and a 60-minute interview about your experiences and perspective. The interview will be conducted by UBC researchers and can be completed by telephone or through other secure online means such as UBC’s Zoom platform.
Participation is completely voluntary.
For more information about the study or to let us now that you are interested in participating in the study, please send us an email to greyson.lab@ubc.ca or leave a phone message at 604-822-5305. Please mention the study Intellectual freedom and medical disinformation, leave your name and the best way to contact you about the study.
(Via British Columbia Library Association)
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