Information Literacy … with Bigfoot?

This October, we’ve eschewed the typical ghosts and vampires for something even more terrifying… misinformation! It’s impossible to make informed decisions without reliable information. What can we do about it? Let’s practice using a popular topic of debate: cryptozoology. Is Bigfoot real? What about UFOs? Evaluate the materials on our October book display and decide what you believe!

With something as strange as Bigfoot, the distinction between fiction and nonfiction might get a little fuzzy. To clarify, fiction books are stories an author made up for entertainment. For example, “Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre” (FIC Bro) is completely pretend, even though it is styled like a real account. The author, Max Brooks, makes no secret of it. Read supplementary material like the acknowledgments in the back of the book or interviews with the author for a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process. When faced with something unbelievable (or too believable) always check the context of the work.

Nonfiction provides information that the author claims is true. This includes works of opinion as well as objective facts, and it can be hard to tell the difference. To complicate matters, folklore like Ronald Baker’s “Hoosier Folk Legends” (398.2 Hoo) is often included in nonfiction, as the study of how these stories are told is based in reality, even when the stories themselves are not. Our nonfiction section also includes poetry, plays, and satire – victims of the Dewey Decimal classification system. “In Me Own Words: The Autobiography of Bigfoot” by Graham Roumieu is not factual, even though the call number is (741.5971 Rou). Technically, all the books in our fiction section could be shelved with the literature in nonfiction, but most public libraries separate creative writing like novels from informative writing like textbooks. How can you assess these disparate sources? Be skeptical, and ask lots of questions!

Where did the author get their information? How has the information changed from the original source? Have certain points been reinterpreted or expanded where others are ignored?

Are their claims supported by evidence? Can this evidence be verified by others?

Is the author trying to push a certain opinion? How would the author benefit from someone agreeing with them? For example, if the author sells Bigfoot repellant, you should be skeptical when they say Bigfoot is real and very dangerous.

Is the book written to evoke strong emotions? Is the information true, or does it just confirm a belief you already held?

Who is the author? Who is the publisher? What else have they published; is it credible? Can you confirm any claims of expertise?

Is the book up to date? Has new information come to light that would change the author’s conclusions?

When in doubt, see what other resources have to say. Viewing an issue from all angles is the best way to understand it!

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