Welcome to Future Lib- The Blog about the Future of Libraries, or more specifically, what competencies are needed in 21st Century. No longer just a quiet place to study, today's libraries are often bustling community centers, hubs of technology, and many library activities take place outside of library walls!
Our team thought about the way libraries have changed, and what skills are needed to adapt to these changes and meet the customer as they are. Many of the changes are technology related, such as Sabin's article on Cloud Computing, Ryan's discussion of Web Literacy, and Laurel's article on Social Media. Other 21st century competencies are more behaviorally related and require shifting roles, as shown in Jeannine's article on Non-Traditional competencies. We hope you enjoy our blog and that you learn something new. We welcome your comments and questions. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Non-Traditional 21st Century Competencies
The idea of a non-traditional role for a librarian might
have previously been considered outreach work.
An outreach librarian physically leaves the building to perform
community based services, such as working with kids in reading, or helping
senior citizens complete necessary paperwork. Many libraries have expanded on
these basic community activities. According
to the New York Public Library website, they have an outreach program with five
city prisons where they provide books through their bookmobile program as well
as working with imprisoned parents to record favorite picture books, allowing
them the opportunity to read to their children.
During my research I have found that much of what might be considered non-traditional
today, is happening within the libraries themselves.
At Polytechnic University in Florida they do not have a
single book in their library, everything is digital. When students need reference material it is
purchased on demand by the library. The librarians are there to assist the students
with research and teach them how to use the digital content. (Stein, 2014). Another
emerging role for librarians’ in the 21st Century is a
bibliotherapist. The definition of bibliotherapy is “the prescribing of fiction
for life’s ailments” – (Berthoud, S & Elderkin, S., 2014). It is often a mixture of fiction and
non-fiction books that are “prescribed” to patrons. Librarians will often work with health and
psychology professionals in determining the course of literature to
prescribe(Weaver). In another non-traditional role, Portland, Oregon libraries
lend out tools or seeds to their patrons. Instead of the focus being on books, the
librarians teach classes and develop workshops that focus on building as well
as growing and sustainability (Weston, 2014). The competencies of a librarian are constantly
changing and growing according to what the community requires as a result of
these needs non-traditional roles emerge.
Works Cited
Berthoud, E & Elderkin, S (2013) The Novel Cure.
New York, New York: Penguin Books
Stein, L. (2014) Library Without Books Debuts at Florida’s
New College. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-library-idUSKBN0GP0W620140825
Weaver, S. Non-Traditional Jobs for Special Librarians.
Retrieved from http://faculty.libsci.sc.edu/bob/class/clis724/SpecialLibrariesHandbook/non-traditional.htm
Weston, B. (2014). Non-Traditional Lending Libraries in
Oregon. OLA Quarterly, 19(2), 11-16, http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1388
Learning and Teaching a 21st Century Competency: Mozilla, Libraries, and Web Literacy
The traditional definition of literacy as defined by NAAL, The National Assessment of Adult Literacy is concerned with “how adults use printed and written information to adequately function at home, in the workplace, and in the community.” When one is said to be “computer literate,” they understand the mechanics of how to use a computer. They can turn a computer on and off, type on the keyboard, and click the mouse.
Web Literacy takes things one step further. It can be defined simply as “the ability to read, write, and participate on the web.” Mozilla has created a Web Literacy Map that provides a framework for the key elements of Read, Write, and Participate. Related to the Web Literacy Map, are Mozilla’s 21st Century Skills: Problem-Solving, Collaboration, Creativity, and Communication. For libraries, Web Literacy is important as customers seek more information via the internet unguided and by themselves, they need ways to seek out and evaluate quality information. With the proliferation of social media and commenting on news sites, customers are also contributing and participating in the web. This presents a great opportunity for libraries. Many customers are re-engaging after their times as students, where they were taught to write a research paper in school, but weren’t taught standards for participating in the web. It is in libraries’ best interest to help facilitate standards, so that information that is created is also easy to find.
Mozilla, for their part as a nonprofit is interested in facilitating education. It falls in line with their mission “to build a safe, open, and innovative web that empowers individuals and communities.” This is in stark contrast to other internet companies like Microsoft and Google who provide “free services” but make money off of target ads from data mining. So how is Web Literacy taught, and how can libraries and other institutions implement programs for their staff and customers? Mozilla has three tools that TLCPL learned about at the workshop in Cleveland: X-Ray Goggles, Thimble, and Webmaker. After opening up Firefox, Mozilla’s browser, and registering for a free account, the tools can be activated to work through Mozilla’s curriculum. Participants of the workshop were able to manipulate the images and headlines on their favorite news websites, and create a soundcloud playlist on a separate blog page. Everyone agreed the projects were fun, and informative. Currently, teams have been formed to apply the exercises to TLCPL staff and provide cutting edge programming to their customers. Check out Mozilla’s Learning Page at http://learning.mozilla.org for more on Web Literacy, and this exciting curriculum.
Works Cited:
Chung, An-Me. IMLSAug25Mozilla101WebLitMap2.0 (Google Slides Presentation). Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uN-NFFIByyftwt_gy_-fkMvHTsoAYf23ceexthEu4L0/edit#slide=id.p12
Lawrence, Chris. (2015, August 3). A Definition of Web Literacy and How Students Can Benefit. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/uncategorized/a-definition-of-web-literacy-and-how-students-can-benefit/
Mozilla. The Mozilla Learning Network. Retrieved from https://learning.mozilla.org/en-US/
Mozilla. Tools. Retrieved from https://learning.mozilla.org/en-US/tools
Mozilla. 21st Century Skills. Retrieved from https://learning.mozilla.org/en-US/web-literacy/skills
Mozilla. Web Literacy. Retrieved from https://learning.mozilla.org/en-US/web-literacy
National Assessment of Adult Literacy. Three Types of Literacy. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/naal/literacytypes.asp
Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing
Technology is changing rapidly all around us; librarians in the twenty-first century should have the basic competency to stay ahead of the competition. The new trend out there is cloud computing. Cloud computing is a growing trend among libraries, it is a network that is housed outside the library that provides and manages the libraries data rather than the library maintain its own server. This type of network could help revolutionize the library system by providing a platform for inter-departmental cooperation as well as cooperation with other libraries. An article posted on the IBM website describes cloud computing as “the delivery of on-demand computing resources”. Cloud computing will help save money from the budget when the library does not have to maintain its own server room therefore clearing up space to be used by the library. One of the leading features of this service is the fact that it can be accessed from anywhere on the planet. Learning this type of network is important as a librarian to stay relevant in the twenty-first century.
More and more libraries are
converting their networks to the new cloud computing network. One way to
familiarize yourself with cloud computing is by practicing on Google Gmail
servers where you can organize your photos; search the web and much more. Cloud
computing is a data storage device and by learning how it’s used you would
discover the vast amounts of uses it has and the how beneficial it is to a
library. Another aspect of cloud computing is that libraries could potentially
house their e-books within the cloud network therefore eliminating the need to
house and maintain their own servers. The only downside to using cloud
computing is the monthly payment that the library has to pay an outside company
for the use of its servers. Also, there is also a chance that the servers could
get hacked and the libraries data can be compromised. The positive aspects of
this network far-out way the negative making it essential asset in any librarian’s
skill set.
Works Cited
Goldner, M. (n.d.). Winds of change: Libraries and
cloud computing | Goldner | BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape.
Retrieved September 30, 2016, from
http://bclabrowser.ca/index.php/browser/article/view/362
Learn about cloud. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30,
2016, from https://www.ibm.com/cloud-computing/what-is-cloud-computing
Libraries and Social Media in the 21st Century
In
this age of rapidly evolving communication, it has become essential
for libraries to have competency in social media platforms in order to connect
with their community and its individuals.
When used expertly, social media can function as many
roles within a library. It can work as an educator to the community, using social
media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to inform people all over the
world of the library’s collection. Additionally, the library may utilize those
platforms to highlight key items of interest. For example, The United States
Library of Congress often uses their Twitter account to showcase resources and
items in their collection, such as photos of the 1st World Series in
honor of its 113th anniversary (Library of Congress, 2016). Through programs such as textalibrarian.com (program which allows patrons to
communicate directly with librarians via phone texting and allows libraries to “respond
to multiple inquires at once” (Mosio for Libraries, 2016)) and live-chat,
social media has the ability to strengthen existing relationships between the
community and the library. Finally, according to Ann P. Bishop and Karen E.
Fisher (2015), technologies such as “Wordpress blogs, Vimeo, videoconferencing”
and other forms of media can be managed to both create and archive a library’s
work (p. 23). Such media platforms can help keep information from libraries in
an organized location as well as help share said information with the
community.
An important element when effectively using social media
on a library’s behalf is the American Library Association Code of Ethics. Most
importantly, principle IV of the ALA Code of Ethics states that libraries must “respect
intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of
information users and rights holders”
(American
Library Association, 2008). A librarian may have experience navigating social
media, but if they post an image without citing its source or acquiring the
proper release of said image, such actions could have serious repercussions on
the entire library. Additionally, principle III of the Code of Ethics, which
states that libraries must “protect each library user’s right to privacy and
confidentiality with respect to information sought or received” (ALA, 2008), is
significant for librarians running social media as, according to Naomi House
(2015), effective online communication requires respecting and setting someone’s
boundaries (p. 373). If a patron no longer feels that their online conversation
is private and wishes to stop communication with the library, respect their
wishes and stop communication. Such actions may actually strengthen the
relationship between the patron and the library as it proves the library will
respect their patrons.
Overall, social media, when used responsibly and
competently, can be a wonderful tool for strengthening the relationships
between libraries and their patrons.
Works
Cited
Books:
Bishop, Ann P., & Fisher,
Karen E. (2015). Information Communities. In Sandra Hirsh (Ed.),
Information Services Today: An
Introduction (pp. 20-26). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.
House, Naomi. (2015) Career
Management Strategies for Lifelong Success. In Sandra Hirsh (Ed.),
Information Services Today: An
Introduction (pp. 367-373). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.
Electronic Sources:
American Library Association.
(2008). Code of Ethics of the American
Library Association. Retrieved
October 4, 2016 from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics.
Library of Congress. (2016,
October 1). Today in History: The Boys of October: 1st World Series,
1903; Roger Maris hits home run 61, 1961. Retrieved October 4, 2016 from https://twitter.com/librarycongress/status/782188334902751232.
Mosio for Libraries. (2016). The all-in-one support tool for libraries.
Retrieved October 4, 2016 from http://www.textalibrarian.com/.
21st Century Competencies: A Conclusion
A 21st century librarian has many competencies. According
to the SLA, the core competencies for librarians today include data,
information and knowledge (SLA, 2016).
These competencies need to be expanded into a much larger framework
within the library system. Librarians
today need to understand technology on a completely different level than ever
before and have a strong basis in web literacy.
In areas such as social media, it is important to be able to utilize
social media for the benefit of their library as well as their patrons. With the evolution of cloud computing we need
to understand how to apply this form of network storage to the library so that
it runs efficiently within the network. Outside of the computer technology aspect, is
the non-traditional competencies that are becoming more relevant. We need to be able to work with the community
in determining the needs and values within that community whether that be
sustainability or therapeutic, libraries are not just about the books any
longer. It seems the most important
competency for a 21st century librarian is adaptability in all areas
of librarianship (Adams, S., 2015)
Citations
Adams, S., (2015) Librarianship. In Hirsch, S.(Ed ), Information
Services Today (pp. 41-52) Lanham,
Marland: Rowman & Littlefield
SLA Board of Directors (2015) Competencies for Information
Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.sla.org/about-sla/competencies/
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