Hello! I am the co-chair of the ALSC’s Children and Technology Committee. This will be my fourth and final year on the committee (two as a committee member and two as the co-chair). Serving on this virtual committee has provided me with unique opportunities and challenges. The virtual setting allows for greater flexibility in scheduling and increased participation from members across the country.
However,working virtually also has its own set of challenges. One of the most significant issues is the potential for miscommunication due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. To mitigate this, we make sure to communicate, utilizing various digital tools to ensure everyone is on the same page. Another challenge is managing different time zones, which requires careful planning and flexibility from all members. Despite challenges, our virtual committee has achieved significant milestones.
Our committee charge is:
To educate and encourage youth librarians to be leaders on technology issues in their institutions. To identify technology issues impacting youth librarians and to disseminate information to the membership on these issues through programs, training opportunities, and publications both traditional and electronic. –https://www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc/coms/pg7profdev/als-ctc
During my tenure on the committee, we provided various training opportunities for ALSC members. We participated in two We are ALSC Chats: Digital Storytelling and Content Creation with Children and Hybrid Programming: Evaluating Takeaways from the Pandemic and Moving Library Services into the Future. In addition to this, the committee recorded a podcast on Media Mentorship and AI.
Working on this committee has been a great experience for me both professionally and personally. If you have any ideas for the committee to provide future programs or training, please feel free to comment below.
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: 3.1, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9
Angelique Kopa is the 2022-2024 co-chair of the ALSC Children and Technology committee, and she works for a public library in Maryland in Collection Development.