Faculty member Kim Thompson and iSchool Ph.D. student Mashiat Tabassum are contributing to an important national conversation on trust, access, and equity in libraries.

The pair recently presented their research, “Reducing information poverty through public trust in honest librarians,” at the 18th Bridging the Spectrum Symposium hosted by The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Their work explores how public trust, long considered a cornerstone of librarianship, is evolving in today’s complex information environment. While libraries remain among the most trusted public institutions in the United States, Thompson and Tabassum highlight growing challenges, including political pressures, the spread of misinformation, and widening social inequalities.

Drawing on existing literature, the researchers examine how trust is shaped by social norms, institutional practices, and everyday interactions between librarians and their communities. Their findings suggest that trust is not evenly distributed. It can weaken when libraries are perceived as politically influenced, lacking transparency, or unresponsive to community needs.

At the same time, the research underscores the powerful role libraries can play in strengthening trust and reducing information poverty. Interpersonal connections, clear and transparent policies, and inclusive public spaces all contribute to building social capital.

Their research reinforces the vital role libraries and information professionals play in fostering equitable access to information and sustaining informed, engaged communities.