benefits of gadgets in public libraries
DESCRIPTION
FIMS Student Conference 2012 Presentation. On the benefits of using gadgets to improve the digital literacy skills of your community and staff.TRANSCRIPT
The Benefits of Gadgets in Public
LibrariesFIMS Student Conference 2012
Saturday, June 23
Sarah Felkar, MLIS Candidate
Outline
•What is a Gadget?
•eBooks and Literacy
•Digital Literacy
•Library Projects
•Community Needs
•Budgets
•Final Thoughts
What is a Gadget?
•Electronic Device with a specific function
From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/311388123/
eBooks and Literacy
“Middle school boys rated reading more valuable as an activity after two months of using an e-reader."
eBooks and Literacy
Digital Literacy
This is the key issue!
Digital Literacy
What is it?
Issues of:
•Computer Skills & Access Issues
•Issues of Authorship
•Issues of Representation
•Online social responsibility
(from http://mediaedlab.com/2012/06/14/defining-digital-literacy/)
Digital Literacy
CLA's Position Statement on Information and Communication Technology
•Access to Networks
•Access to Information Literacy
•Open Access to Information
•Freedom of Expression
•Privacy
Digital Literacy
and Gadgets?
•Tools for achieving digital literacy
•Tools that enable access to society
•Addressing (some of) the digital divide
What are Libraries doing?
•Lending eReaders
•Providing eBooks
What are Libraries doing?
•Gadget Labs
•Mobile libraries
•Tech Help
From: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/06/library-services/meet-the-bookless-mobile/
What are Libraries doing?
Featuring: 3D printing, Skype, music and video editing, computer programming
From: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/10/143401182/libraries-make-room-for-high-tech-hackerspaces
Hackerspaces
&
Makerspaces
Arduino Starter Kits
Learn more through OLITA:http://accessola.org > OLITA > Technology Lending
Library
Learn to program and code!
What are Libraries doing?Energy Meters
•Lent out for patrons to use to calculate their energy use.
What aren't Libraries doing?•
o Phoneso more tabletso MP3 players (different from playaways)
“Personal Electronics are Personal”-Jason Giffey
Why aren't we lending personal devices?
What are Libraries doing?
What have you heard of/seen done?
Community Needs
•Consider where your community is at.
•Ask & listen to what they need.
•Know how that fits with your library's mission.
Community Needs
•Everyone has their own gadgets
•We have a digital divide
•People are just starting to ask questions
Scenarios:
Demonstrations
A gadget petting zoo&Demonstration EventsTwo activities that can solve multiple issues at once-
Staff Training
•Download an eBook
•Turn on/off navigate most (if not all) devices
•Find and use troubleshooting resources
•Have an awareness of available staff expertise
Everyone working in a library should be able to:
Staff Training
Knowledgeable staff can then:
•Use tablets in reference
•Use devices for registering patrons at events
•Take the Petting Zoo on the road
and...
Better meet the needs of your community
Budget Impact
Images_of_Money From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/5857913848/
Budget Impact
• Consider pilot projects with one time costs.
• Find out if Digital Literacy initiatives are part of your strategic plan- if so ensure that some projects make it into the planning cycle.
Final Thoughts
Public Libraries dealing with gadgets is really about:
•Access to information
•Digital Literacy
Final Thoughts
It isn't a question of "should you" but a question of "what" and "how".
And...
