This season for many of us looks a little different professionally than we might have imagined. As some libraries softly launch more in-person interactions, others may be in a constant state of preparation only to discover that making plans is extremely challenging in this current state. Many institutions have determined that moving forward there will always be space for virtual offerings in their service models. While we all have some sense of wishing to unplug, I am trying to reflect on how technology has allowed us to connect in unique ways over the past year and a half. I’m also looking to the future to see how virtual offerings might not necessarily be the end to purposeful experiences for the communities we serve.
Tag: Children & Technology
Free Media Mentorship Webinar
On Tuesday, July 21, 2015, ALSC is offering a free webinar on media mentorship. Presented by Amy Koester, Youth & Family Program Coordinator, Skokie (IL) Public Library, Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth: A Primer is an opportunity to learn more about the core ideas behind the white paper. Registration is free and open to anyone. Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth: A Primer Tuesday, July 21, 2015 12pm Eastern 11am Central 10am Mountain 9am Pacific
From Dinosaur Robotics to Digital Storytelling: Incorporating Technology Into Summer Programming
The ALSC’s Children and Technology Committee is interested in hearing about your experiences with incorporating digital resources, social media, and technology into your summer programming. We looked around and found some great ideas from our colleagues around the country. Tech Labs The Frederick County Public Libraries has STEM Lab, where children can drop in to learn about or use 3D printers, apps, robotic dinosaurs, or drones. This is similar to Darien Library’s TEA Room, (TEA stands for Technology, Engineering, and the Arts). There, students can reserve space to use media production equipment or take classes on Raspberry Pi, 3D Printing, etc. These programs offer a nice balance of a space/time that is both free and unstructured or structured group projects and classes. Tech Partnerships King County Library System in Washington State has partnered with the Museum of Flight during the summer to offer tech program s such as Everyday Robot…
IT People–Children’s Librarians In Disguise?
In the tradition of My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle, I offer this observation. I’m pretty sure library IT people are children’s librarians in disguise. Unfortunately, I do tend to agree with many of my colleagues that it can be difficult to communicate with the IT people that populate libraries. However, I didn’t realize until I had the privilege of working closely with an IT person on several projects that there are similarities between us as well. I just hadn’t looked hard enough. We have a lot of common ground. Both groups spend a lot of time on the floor. IT people are crawling around plugging or unplugging electronics into outlets. Children’s librarians, they are sitting reading books in storytime or looking for a book on the lowest shelf of the lowest shelving units in the entire library! Both groups like to play with toys. IT people have action…
Dear Teen Me – Children & Technology
On October 30th, Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves edited by Miranda Kenneally and E. Kristin Anderson, was published. It is a new book of letters from 70 different authors to their teenage selves. The publisher offered an opportunity to bloggers to write their own letters to their teen selves. Dear Teen Me, You’ve come a long way since high school. Right now you’re really focused and rather a stick-in-the-mud. The fact that you’ll end up graduating salutatorian of your high school class is not going to make you any happier as an adult. It’s still a great accomplishment, but it doesn’t help you make the world a better place. I’m not going to lie to you, Teen Me, you have some rough stuff ahead of you. You think people are icky in high school, they are even worse in college and in the real world….