Now that Summer Reading is over, we can take the time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t work, and how to improve our services for future years. Given larger-scale concerns about screen time and technology usage, it’s timely to evaluate the format of summer reading logs at the library: should we use physical logs or digital apps? There are pros and cons to both methods. This blog post will delve into each as well as discuss where this falls in the scope of current events.
Tag: technology
Getting Ready for the Future: Teaching AI in the Library
AI is one of the most discussed and most complicated topics in library circles. Some librarians are very excited about the rise of AI. IdaMae Craddock of the Community Lab School (VA) made a great list of new AI tools to help at work. As a librarian, you may find Canva’s Magic Design tools helpful when creating posters and flyers. Other librarians are concerned about how AI will impact the authors and illustrators we love. Some have even noticed a rise in low quality ebooks created by AI appearing in library catalogs. The Pima County Public Library (AZ) created a great guide for patrons on how to spot these titles. Too often, the debate on AI focuses on adults, while kids are left out of the conversation. AI is a powerful new technology, and whether you like it or not, it is here to stay. It’s important that the patrons…
Children’s Makerspaces in Public Libraries
In the last several decades, the landscape of public libraries changed from what one might consider a stereotypical book storehouse to an eclectic gathering space not just for materials, but for people. To remain relevant in their communities, public libraries adapted to this shift in focus, working to provide more versatile and technological resources for their community members. One trend in particular that has sprung from this change is the concept of makerspaces. A relatively young concept as far as technology goes, this idea has taken root and managed to establish itself in libraries across the country. It is believed that the concept of “making” was first discussed in 2005, as part of an article in Make – a magazine that published information regarding maker projects. Since then, many libraries have taken the steps to build their own makerspaces filled with different types of technology. At the very least, most…
Promoting Healthy Tech Use in the Middle School Library
The “elevator pitch” I often use for my job is that I act as a bridge between youth technology and the school library. I integrate myself into class projects, ensuring smoother tech components, and teach a digital skills class covering topics such as device 101, email etiquette, and responsible research. During the pandemic and remote learning years, this “bridge” work ranged from directing students to the correct Zoom link to join class, to assisting students in accessing our digital Sora collections when our physical library was not accessible. Fortunately, it seems that with each passing year, we are re-entering a more normal version of school. However, while challenges with technology have changed, they haven’t disappeared, and in many cases, educators find it more important than ever to integrate healthy and responsible technology use into our learning environments. At the start of this school year, I organized several faculty development sessions…
Supporting AAC-Users in the Library
October is AAC Awareness Month! AAC stands for “augmentative and alternative communication,” and it’s often used to refer to a tool that can help someone communicate without speech, like a picture board or a tablet with a communication application. It can be as simple as a white board, or as high tech as a computer that can detect the user’s eye movements and translate them to speech. Someone who is non-speaking, or has difficulty speaking, can use their AAC to communicate with others. Let’s learn a little bit about AAC devices and how you can support AAC-users in the library.
The Digital Tools of an ALSC Virtual Committee
Hello! Manuela Aronofsky and Tina Bartholoma here. We’re the current co-chairs of the ALSC Children and Technology Committee. The ALSC C&T Committee is a virtual committee, so to stay connected and collaborate with members across time zones, we have adopted a handful of favorite digital tools. Today we will share what they are and how we use them for our committee work.
Encouraging Guilt-Free Screen Time
I’ve heard plenty of parents express guilt over letting their children watch videos or play games on their phones – “I know I shouldn’t, but it’s just so I can get the dishes done.” It doesn’t help that it seems like recommendations are changing constantly and parents don’t always know where to look for the most up-to-date information. The last two years have been even harder – video chats and schooling have moved online and our children are getting more screen time than ever.
Pandemic Takeaways, Part 1
ALSC’s Children and Technology committee has been reflecting on the past year, about our roles and practices in our learning environments, especially as they relate to technology. This is the first of two posts we created that share our experiences. Today, we are focusing on the school librarians in our group. Manuela Aronofsky is the Middle School Technology Integrator at the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, New York, and Julie Williams is the Librarian at Sanford Middle School in Sanford, Maine. What is the top digital tool or strategy you are taking from the pandemic? Manuela: I have come to really appreciate digital tools that allow for asynchronous discussion, and response. The main tools I’m using in the classroom include Flipgrid (for students to record video responses), and Padlet (for students to post short written responses). The nice thing about these tools is that they allow for online “conversation” –…