Media Literacy in Modern Society

Reykjavík City Library recently received a grant from the Icelandic Library Fund for the project Soft Networks - Digesting Information Together.

The project is Reykjavík City Library’s contribution to Media Literacy Week 2026 with a programme of events running from autumn 2026 through spring 2027. Together, we will explore and deepen our understanding of our relationships with technology, media and the digital future, with an emphasis on caring, critical thinking, and democratic aspects.

The programme will include:

• Creative family events at all Reykjavík City Library branches.
• Weekly gatherings about privacy settings, app permissions, and the hidden layers of our digital identity, like inferred interests, behavioral categories and how platforms interpret us. 
• Textile workshops where participants will sew phone “sleeping bags” using Faraday fabric.
• Media Soup Labs – active discussions and workshops about digital societies of the future with complimentary soup and bread.

Libraries have always been places of empowerment - helping people navigate information, ask better questions and think critically. In today’s digital age, that mission extends beyond bookshelves. Media literacy is no longer just about reading texts; it’s about understanding algorithms platforms, and the forces shaping our online lives.

Pictured are the Reykjavík City Library staff members involved in the project. From left: Unnar Geir Unnarsson, Ingibjörg Ösp Óttarsdóttir, Martyna Karolina Daniel, and Guðrún Elísa Ragnarsdóttir.