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There is an urgent need to build the public's resilience in the face of disinformation. Nevertheless, librarians may be hesitant to assume a frontline role in confronting politicized misinformation. We conducted ethnographic observations and interviews across three Montana libraries to understand the informational needs and search habits of library patrons and the role that librarians play in promoting effective search practices. Montana poses unique challenges with regard to broadband speed and access; however, our findings replicated studies in school settings across the country regarding reliance on antiquated search literacy techniques. The librarians interviewed noted challenges with confronting patrons about specific information claims that might be politically sensitive, but they expressed confidence in their ability to build patron trust and teach effective search literacy practices. We built and tested interventions designed to enable librarians to build their skills and empower patrons to better confront misinformation now and in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As digitally enabled information systems play an increasingly central role in culture and economics, their negative consequences have become apparent. This guest editorial addresses the urgent need for information scientists to take a more deliberate stance in designing and guiding the evolution of these systems. We propose a framework for conceptualizing “healthier information ecosystems” by drawing on theories from complex systems and ecological research, grounded in a value‐oriented approach. The article reviews key concepts from systems science, complex systems, and ecology, with a focus on ecosystem and adaptation research. These perspectives offer analytical approaches for decomposing information ecosystems and provide a foundation for understanding “health” in the context of evolving, open systems. Unlike natural ecosystems, information ecosystems must be evaluated according to human values; thus, we articulate a set of values as a starting point for defining health in this context. By introducing insights from beyond the field of information systems, we aim to instigate scholarly dialog, connect prior work in new ways, and reveal new opportunities for research and intervention. This connective and argumentative contribution is intended to guide future research and identify solutions to the proliferating problems in our current information ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]