AUBURN — The Auburn Public Library plans to explore “Informed Literacy in the Digital Age” through programs which take a deeper dive into the ways journalism has evolved and how those changes can affect the community.

In this digital age, people can quickly become overwhelmed with all of the information they receive. There are so many outlets — traditional news or radio, online research via Google or other search engines, or social media (which continues to expand to include new platforms). Questions arise such as which method is reliable, and how can one determine the best, most credible sources, according to a news release from the library.

This series is made possible by a grant received from the Maine Humanities Council.

“Calling Bull: Building Agency to Refute Information” will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, via Zoom; call Donna Wallace, 333-6640, ext. 4.

In this portion of the series, the library has partnered with students in a class from the Digital & Computational Studies Department at Bates College for a special Zoom event. In this class, students look at misinformation, and dive deeply into the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of the propaganda. The course culminates into a capstone project wherein students put together a portfolio of three pieces of misinformation and work to correct or debunk the information.

During this community Zoom session with the class, Calling Bull students will share a piece of their portfolio in which they present a rebuttal in an effort to set the record straight.

“Book Discussion: ‘The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding From You'” by Eli Pariser will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in the library conference room at 49 Spring St.; call Donna Wallace, 333-6640, ext. 4.

As part of this series, participants will read and discuss Pariser’s book. This book explores how the personalization on the internet is controlling, and perhaps even limiting, the information people consume.

People should make sure of availability to participate in the discussion before signing up.

Registration is required and can be done by emailing Wallace at [email protected]. Through grant funding, the copy of the book is for participants to either add to their personal library or share with another.

For more information on this or other upcoming programs offered by the library, visit auburnpubliclibrary.org, Auburn Public Library Advocates on Facebook, or email the library.