TechSoup for Libraries blogs

Sending help to Oklahoma libraries

Sarah Washburn — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:07:34 +0000

My friend and colleague Susan McVey, State Librarian of Oklahoma, encouraged me to share a post from Anne Masters, Director of the Pioneer Library System, which is near areas affected by the recent and tragic tornado. Find out how you can help.

From Anne Masters:

We watched in terror as the tornado made its way along the path one mile south of the South Oklahoma City Library and about a block south of the Moore Public Library where 54 people were sheltering from the storm. We were so relieved when they were passed, but others were not so fortunate.

Many people from within and outside the state have sent offers of help to our Pioneer Library System staff members affected by the tornadoes on Sunday and Monday. The PLS Development Office and the PLS Foundation will serve as the clearing house for offers of assistance for Pioneer staff. At this time we know of 9 Pioneer families whose homes are destroyed or unlivable.

There is a form to donate specifically to staff members through the PLS Foundation. At this point it is difficult for people to assess needs so we feel that cash donations are best for them at this time. Here is the link: http://justsoyouknow.us/pls/111-Press/4803-pioneer-library-system-tornado-relief-fund which also includes ways to donate to the Red Cross for relief for Moore. Please know that the Foundation will steward your donations in good faith as the work of recovery begins.

Donations may also be made online via Network for Good: https://npo1.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1005550&code=home%20page. Scroll down the page to the line under "About You."

Thank you for your many messages of support.

Anne

Anne Masters, Director

Pioneer Library System

Minecraft at the Library

Brenda Hough — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:56:14 +0000

Silver Lake, Kansas is a town with a population of 1,439 people (according to the 2010 Census). Thanks to the local library, there’s a whole lot of building going on in the community… and I’m not just talking about renovations and an expansion at the library. Youth in the community have been visiting the library to play Minecraft, a game that allows them to build almost anything they can imagine.

What is Minecraft?

Minecraft is a game. Players build things out of cubes in a 3D world. It’s available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. There is an iOS version and Android, Xbox, and Raspberry Pi, too. It’s incredibly popular.

Why did the Silver Lake Public Library decide to offer Minecraft?

When asked why the library decided to offer Minecraft, Cathy Newland, director of the Silver Lake Public Library, jokes, “Because Tracey and Alphie [Youth Services Librarian and Assistant Director at the library] told me to!” Two articles from Library Journal’s Digital Shift blog also helped support the decision:

Cathy continues,

“Minecraft has a lot of educational potential. It helps kids develop spatial and problem-solving skills, collaboration and creativity. It also creates the opportunity for group and social learning. Minecraft is all about building on a lot of different levels. We talk a lot about makerspaces in libraries these days, and Minecraft is like a virtual makerspace (in sort of a micro-global way--you're building little worlds!).”

What Minecraft activities are happening at the library?

The library hosts a monthly gaming night and one of these nights they featured Minecraft. Patrons can play MinecraftEdu three days a week. The library plans to hold another Minecraft game night during Summer Reading Program, at which participating kids will receive an assignment to finish. Players at the library events are primarily middle school students, but the library will be involving high school students, too, with adjustments, “Teens don’t like MinecraftEdu – they usually have their own accounts online. When we have the Minecraft night for teens, we will adjust to that – they will have to do certain things but won’t use MinecraftEdu.”

What’s involved in setting Minecraft up for a library environment?

The library purchased MinecraftEdu. The total cost was $95, which includes $18 each for 3 public access workstations licenses [$54] and $41 for the enhanced software [for the computer designated as server]. Dan Alexander, Technology Coordinator with Northeast Kansas Library System, the regional library system, helped the library with setup. Dan says, "Staff ran into a small road bump at first. They had installed the client side on the gaming computers but not software on the local "server". MinecraftEdu setup requires a "server" computer; one that will host the gaming world. Once the server side was up and running you could then connect to it through the client computers. It is easiest if you know the server's static IP address, for example 192.168.1.200, name and save this connection for future ease of use. After setting up the "server," it is a good idea to increase the RAM that the program has access to. Help with changing the Server RAM settings and other help can be found at the MinecraftEdu wiki."

Advice for other libraries interested in Minecraft?

Cathy suggests,

“It might be good to get familiar with the game before offering it to the public! At least one person on staff should know what is in the game and the Minecraft lingo. The kids were way ahead of us! Still are, but that is ok. We are learning from them.”

Technorati Tags: games Kansas Minecraft Silver Lake technology youth

Speed Dating: A Fast Way to Meet New Technologies

Brenda Hough — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:47:25 +0000

You may have heard of speed dating parties. They are popular matchmaking events during which single people have an opportunity to have quick conversations with lots of other single people. If someone meets a person they would like to get to know better during the event, they can arrange another date. Some innovative minds in the New Jersey library world have borrowed from this approach to create Technology Speed Dating, a training format that helped NJ librarians quickly get introduced to lots of new technologies.

New Jersey's Tech Speed Dating

For this collaborative project, LibraryLinkNJ, the New Jersey State Library, and NJLA’s Emerging Technologies Section worked together to create a series of technology training programs for staff from all types of libraries in New Jersey. They decided to model the training programs after a combination of conference table talks, technology open house events, and the techniques used in speed dating.

The program was three hours long and featured:

Table talks staffed by expert colleagues
Hot topics: smartphones, iPads, ebook readers, gaming, mobile apps or websites, productivity tools (Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote,etc.), social media (Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, etc.)
Gadgets and devices galore

The event was created to provide librarians with maximum exposure to as many technologies as possible in a half-day timeframe. The organizers worked hard to make sure content was up-to date, responsive to current needs, and applicable to library work situations. They also aimed to give participants a taste of what’s coming in the future.

Technology Speed Dating was a low-stress, fun way to encourage library staff in every department to familiarize themselves with current technologies. Tables were staffed and presentations were delivered by members of LibraryLinkNJ’s staff and Technology Advisory Group; NJLA’s Emerging Technologies Section; NJLA’s College and University Section/ New Jersey Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries Technology Committee, and other interested and tech-savvy colleagues.

The program was offered in three locations around the state of NJ with a limit of 60 participants at each location. With a total of about 40 presenters and almost 175 library staff in attendance at the three programs, the organizers considered Technology Speed Dating a great success. Joanne Roukens, Assistant Director of LibraryLinkNJ, says,

“The format and the content were a tremendous hit, resulting in engaged, excited, satisfied, and happy library staff! With, every objective we had was achieved and the measured results from our evaluations proved the success. In addition, the positive comments poured in and here is just a sample:

Excellent format – I learned more in 3 hours than in 1 day at a major conference!

Well worth my time.

This was valuable to me. Thank you!

I loved how you interspersed short talks/presentations with plenty of table talks and hands-on time.

Q&A was wonderful!

I really appreciated the handouts, as well as LibraryLinkNJ posting the handouts on their site after the day is over.

Thanks! And great networking too!

Excellent format.

This was great! So well organized! There was a great combination of group presentations. Thanks!

Great program and very useful! I learned just by chatting to presenters!

This was an excellent idea to break with short talks!”

In fact, Joanne says the format was such a success, they are considering it for other non-technology topics, too, “We used this format for teaching technology, but we believe it could be adapted to collaborations, learning and networking opportunities on many other subjects. Sharing and talking around a table will always be an essential way that people learn.”

Advice for Others

When asked for suggestions for others considering organizing a speed dating event for learning, Joanne recommends the following:

Develop a learning program to fit your particular needs.
Scale the program to meet them and also your budget.
Create a detailed, well-organized plan of action and make sure your planning team has the skills and expertise to carry it out.
Collaborative partnerships among organizations help leverage tremendous expertise and people power.

Handouts and additional information about the project are available online.

Technorati Tags: emerging technologies learning new jersey speed dating tech training

Special GrantStation Offer: May 21 and May 22

Stephanie Gerding — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:03:33 +0000

TechSoup and GrantStation are pleased to present a special offer for eligible U.S. public libraries, nonprofits, and charities to help you win more grant awards with access to an online grant database, targeted grant research, and insider strategies. Connect to thousands of federal and state grants and other funding opportunities with a specially discounted membership to GrantStation.

During the promotional period, specially discounted one-year and two-year GrantStation memberships will be available to eligible U.S. public libraries and nonprofits:

A one-year, one-user membership for only $99
A two-year, one-user membership for only $179

These administrative fees offer a savings of at least $200 over TechSoup's regular administrative fee (retail value is $699). Organizations may also renew their existing memberships with this special offer, but multiple requests can't be applied to a single membership.

Eligible public libraries may request GrantStation for back-office use or other administrative purposes by library staff. Libraries should contact GrantStation if they are interested in a program that provides access to their patrons.

Tips for this Two-Day-Only Offer

Place your request between May 21 at 8 a.m. Pacific time (11 a.m. Eastern time) and May 22 at 5 p.m. Pacific time (8 p.m. Eastern time).
DO NOT put this product in your cart before the promotion begins.
If you are requesting products for your organization for the first time or have changed important information in your organization profile, you must complete TechSoup's qualification process and provide payment within 9 days of requesting a GrantStation membership (by May 31) to receive the special discount. The qualification process may include several steps, so we encourage you to register today so that you'll have enough time.

Wish you knew more about applying for grant funding?

Read our TechSoup Grant Series: One Hour a Week to Success!

Technorati Tags: grantstation; library grants; grants

Planning: Webinar Follow-up

Brenda Hough — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:45:36 +0000

Thank you to Alexis Caudell, Director of the Mitchell Community Library (IN) for sharing her planning experiences and expertise during today's "Planning: A Small Library's Strategies for Tech Success" webinar! If you missed the webinar, but are interested in a thoughtful approach to technology planning, you'll definitely want to check out the recording and the resources.

Four Facets of Planning

Alexis said that as she considered her approach to technology planning, she realized there were four common threads:

Planning is constant.
We need to think both big scale and small scale.
Consider the needs of people (both patrons and employees).
We have to be willing to adapt and adjust all the time.

Access. Literacy. Curiosity. Community.

The busy small-town library is located in Mitchell, Indiana, serving a population of 12,009 across three rural townships. After getting input from the community in various ways, including forums with representatives from the school, business, social services organizations, planners were able to identify four key areas of service:

Connect to the online world: public internet access and education
Create young readers: early literacy
Satisfy curiousity: lifelong learners
Know your community: community resources and services

The plan of service that was developed outlines more specific goals and plans related to those key areas of service. The attractive service plan was created using Instant Flipbook.

Carefully consider the phrasing of survey and focus group questions. Getting community and staff input was vitally important. When discussing the challenges related to asking people what they need, Alexis quoted Steve Jobs, "It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times people don't know what they want until you show it to them." Steve Jobs, Business Week, May 25, 1998.

Resources from Alexis

Websites

Mitchell Public Library Service Plan
E Rate Technology Plan Guidelines
WebJunction's Technology Planning information
Keep up with technology with NPR's tech podcasts
Learn.ist and the library's boards to share resources
Animoto to easily create professional looking videos
Instant Flipbook
Survey your community with Survey Monkey
WebJunction Competencies to help build staff knowledge and skills
Smarterer to test technology skills
CustomGuide to learn more about technology applications

Books

Strategic Planning for Results by Sandra Nelson ISBN 9780838935736
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen ISBN 978-0142000281
Digital Dead End: Fighting for Social Justice in the Information Age by Virgina Eubanks ISBN 978-0262014984

Additional Resources

Strategic Plan shared by Library System of Lancaster County (PA)
TechSoup
TechSoup for Libraries
TechSoup’s Planning for Success
ReadyTalk the webinar platform used for today's session
Registration for the June 12th webinar, Support Learning in Small Spaces with Small Budgets

Library Edge Benchmark 7

Today's webinar was one of a series of webinars we're offering in collaboration with the Library Edge Initiative. The Edge Initiative is a coalition of leading library and local government organizations. With extensive input from libraries around the country, the Edge Initiative has created benchmarks that can be used by libraries to evaluate and improve technology services. There are 11 benchmarks and today's session was based on Benchmark 7, which includes: Libraries integrate public access technology into planning and policies.

Technorati Tags: Alexis Caudell Benchmark 7 edge patbenchmark planning strategic plan

Reviewing Library Policies: An Important Step in Technology Planning

Bill Young — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:54:40 +0000

In a previous article, I shared resources to help you find data to be used for community assessment as part of technology planning. After your community assessment activities have helped you identify the needs in your service area, and you have used tools and resources to plan technology-related services to meet those needs, it’s time to look at your library’s policies.

Why policies are important

Public library policies provide consistency and uniformity in responses and services to customers, promoting the library’s belief in fairness and equality. Policies provide guidelines for new staff members and library users, protect the library from particular legal challenges, communicate codes of conduct expected of library users, and can state a desired level of performance by the library. Because policies are approved by a library board, or a municipal or county governing body, there is a weight behind them that can serve as a buffer between the library and an irate patron. Public library policies can also communicate the library’s values and mission to the public. Policies on collection development and challenged materials, for example, illustrate that intellectual freedom is an important value. Internet policies can communicate the need to respect an individual’s privacy, while also stating the library’s adherence to federal filtering requirements.

Policies and technology

The Edge Initiative is a voluntary assessment program that includes benchmarks, best practices, tools and resources that support continuous improvement in technology services in public libraries. Edge gives libraries the flexibility to grow and plan for the future. It is important that library policies keep up to date as public technology access services grow in the coming years. New information delivery systems will challenge libraries to develop workable policies that incorporate technology services, while also affirming the library’s important democratic and educational missions within the community. Making the changes recommended by Edge can necessitate policy changes. Let’s look at examples of how policies can be impacted as libraries work to incorporate Library Edge recommendations....

Scenario 1

Following their assessments and strategic planning activities, Dickinson Public Library is committed to helping patrons improve their digital literacy skills, and to improving services to citizens who increasingly connect with the library through their personal portable devices (laptops, eReaders, smartphones, etc.) The library will focus on Library Edge Benchmark 1 for improvement, but finds it must address some policy issues when trying to meet their targeted attributes in Benchmark 1.2, which states, "The library provides individual assistance for digital literacy at all outlets":

One-on-one help is available on-demand for at least 10-minute sessions
One-on-one help is available by appointment for at least 30-minute sessions
One-on-one help is available for patron-owned devices

To help meet the benchmark, the library establishes a policy communicating the staff’s availability to provide one-on-one assistance, and to advertise the availability of 30-minute sessions by appointment should patrons require additional time with staff.

The library also identifies a problem policy that would make it impossible to meet the third attribute. Their policy stated, "The library cannot assist you with your personal devices. The library cannot accept the liability of handling your equipment." A new policy is established that allows patrons to sign a written permission form, releasing the library from liability, and giving the staff permission to help with personal devices.

Some technology changes will not require a change to a library's public policy, but will impact internal policies and procuedures instead. For example, to help fulfill its mission to improve digital literacy skills in the community, Dickinson Public Library is also committed to improving its results under Benchmark 8: Libraries have sufficient staff with technology expertise to help patrons achieve their goals. The activities to meet Benchmark 8—staff training, competency evaluations, hands-on learning, cross-training—will not be reflected in the library’s public policies, but will impact internal policies and procedures. Dickinson realizes that employees will appreciate a stated commitment to a culture of learning that will, in turn, help staff help patrons.

Scenario 2

A library seeking to meet Benchmark 9.3, which states, "The library assures adequate time for patrons to complete tasks", may need to review its policies regarding time limits for Internet and computer sessions. Some libraries allow extended sessions at the discretion of staff so that patrons may complete application forms for jobs, school enrollment, or government services. Some libraries offer extended sessions for online classes and document creation, and some let patrons make appointments for extended sessions.

Ongoing Change

Each library has to develop policies appropriate to their community and their customers. The only certainty is change, and as public access technology services grow and evolve in your library, your policies will need to reflect these changes.

Technorati Tags: benchmark 1 benchmark 9 library edge patbenchmark policies policy technology planning

Technology Instruction Materials for Libraries

Crystal Schimpf — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:49:16 +0000

From 2011-2012 I worked at the Colorado State Library as part of a team to help 50 libraries across the state to develop new and improved technology training programs.

This team was funded by the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP), led by Sharon Morris, and included Kieran Hixon, Nancy Trimm, Jamie Hollier, Susan Burkholder, and myself. As a part of this grant program, we sought to increase the capacity of libraries by offering training and support to library staff. We soon recognized that professional development was not the only element that staff technology trainers needed.

Photo: the Colorado State Library BTOP team: Crystal, Nancy, Jamie, Susan, and Kieran

One of the great challenges faced by library workers was that they did not have the time to plan and prepare for classes. Even experienced instructors struggled to find time to develop and implement new technology classes and respond to the increasing demand from their communities.

We envisioned a better way to plan and prepare to teach technology classes, and worked towards creating a solution that could be accessed by any library. We wanted library staff to benefit from having greater access to existing instructional materials. Existing instructional materials for technology classes can be used as a foundation for technology classes, to save time and effort and build off the work of other technology trainers. It would still be important for staff to have adequate time for planning and preparation, but it would take far less time for them to prepare if they did not have to create the class from scratch.

Adaptable Instructional Outlines

Through our conversations with library staff we learned that many preferred to have a loose outline to follow, as opposed to a detailed script. They wanted to bring their own personal examples, analogies, stories, and practice exercises to the training. They didn’t have time to review a lengthy document that explained technology concepts in great detail, but a flexible outline to direct them through the most essential topics that would still allow the flexibility that is needed in a classroom of adult learners.

Our team discussed the complexities of instructional design with some of the other staff at the Colorado State Library (Mary Beth Faccioli and Shelly Drumm). We devised a simple outlining process that encouraged trainers to focus on a few key objectives each class. We also developed a tip sheet that outlined the process for easily adapting instructional materials that had already been created. Then we began developing some basic computer instruction outlines and made them available on a website for anyone to use.

Each set of class materials includes a basic class outline, resources for additional information on the topic, ideas for activities and practice, and handouts. In addition to the materials we created, we also asked some Colorado libraries to share their materials, including Denver Public Library and Anythink Libraries. These materials can be used to guide single classes or can be strung together in a series. They are also easy to break apart and “mix and match” to create customized classes to meet specific programming needs.

A Website for the Future

We created a website to feature all of the professional development and public training materials created under the Colorado State Library BTOP grant. This website, Library Creation and Learning Centers, has now expanded to encompass other areas of library programming, including resources for maker spaces and digital creation, and is example of how resources can be shared outwardly to the greater library community can benefit.

This website has been built in the spirit of sharing the work of libraries so that we may all learn from each other’s experience. Other sites have been built in the same spirit, including DigitalLearn.org and WebJunction’s section on Teaching Patrons.

The Library Edge Initiative Benchmark 6 states: Libraries support continuous improvement in public access technology services by sharing expertise & best practices with other digital inclusion organizations.

Do you have a website of shared technology instruction materials? If so, please share it in the comments!

Looking for more technology instruction materials? Read these blog posts:

Fabulous, Free Technology Training Materials by Stephanie Gerding
Tech Training Resources by Brenda Hough
Planning Technology Workshops: Save Time, Lower Stress, Increase Success by Stephanie Gerding

Technorati Tags: benchmark benchmarks computer classes Edge Initiative guest series patbenchmark public library lesson plans technology training training materials

Digital Storytelling Challenge Community Choice Voting Now Open!

Kristy Graves — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:51:37 +0000

In addition to our expert judges selecting top stories for our Digital Storytelling Challenge, we are awarding a community choice prize as voted on by YOU!

The video with the most votes wins a $400 Best Buy gift certificate while the most popular slide show takes home a slick new Lytro camera.

Cast your vote now!

How It Works

Voting will be open through 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Friday, May 17.
Each person is allowed one vote per day.
We'll announce the winners at the awards gala on Tuesday, May 28 at PARISOMA in San Francisco and streamed online. More details will be posted ahead of the event.

While we limit votes to just one per day per person, we highly encourage those who submitted entries to mobilize your community for support. You've invested time and energy into your digital story — now campaign for it. Your story is an indispensable part of your marketing strategy, so get out and market it! Encourage your supporters to vote using all available channels. Put it in your newsletter, post it to Facebook, write up a snappy tweet.

Not only will you get the votes you need to win, you'll make sure your community sees your new story — a happy ending for everyone.

Read the full rules here and then get out the vote!

Kristy Graves, TechSoup.org, Online Community Team

Technorati Tags: #TSDigs; digital storytelling

US Public Libraries and BTOP: A New Report from ALA

Brenda Hough — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:38:05 +0000

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) created the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP ) to increase broadband access and adoption in the US. State and public libraries have been critical partners in many of these projects. This May 2013 report from American Library Association (ALA) looks at library projects around the country, exploring the impact on communities.

ALA estimates about 20 percent of U.S. public libraries have benefited from BTOP funding. The report describes library projects in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

BTOP focuses not only on making sure libraries have adequate bandwidth, but also on the importance of digital literacy:

“There is an emerging understanding that access to technology is only a part of the solution needed to ensure digital inclusion and empowerment. Increasing digital skills and competencies make up the rest of this equation.”

The report emphasizes the ways in which the digital efforts of libraries are meeting needs and increasing opportunities in the communities in which they are located. Partnerships are emphasized both as a way to increase impact and as a way to make things happen.

Here are a few highlights from the report:

Nebraska The Nebraska Library Commission has upgraded broadband connections in 101 libraries so far with the average speed moving from 2.9 Mbps to 21.4 Mbps.
Alaska The Alaska Online with Libraries (OWL) project is bringing videoconferencing equipment and services to all of its libraries.
New Jersey The New Jersey State Library has collaborated with the New Jersey Community College Consortium (NJCCC) to deliver over 1,000 job readiness computer skills workshops.
New York The New York State Library Broadbandexpress@yourlibrary project created public access computer and teleconferencing centers in 30 libraries in economically distressed communities, and put five broadband-equipped “e-Mobile” computing training units on the road to rural locations and underserved communities.
Colorado More than 367,000 Coloradans increased their digital literacy skills through that state’s BTOP project.
Idaho The Idaho Commission for Libraries worked with the Idaho Department of Labor’s Youth Corps program to train low-income and/or high-risk youth to serve as Digital Literacy Coaches in libraries.
Vermont The Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont State Colleges created an Internet Interns program, which provides student interns for one-on-one assistance for patrons.
Maine The Maine State Library works with the Volunteer Lawyers Project to provide legal information clinics through new library videoconferencing technology.

Technorati Tags: ALA broadband BTOP digital literacy partnerships

It takes a village... with a great library

Brenda Hough — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:44:51 +0000

Nothing warms this librarian mama’s heart like my three year old son begging to go to the library and then jumping up and down with joy when I agree. My son refers to my issue of Public Libraries magazine (which lies next to his issue of Ranger Rick on our coffee table) as “Mommy Loves Libraries” magazine. A Pew Internet report released earlier this week confirms we are not the only library loving mother child team out there.

Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading

According to the report’s findings, 70% of parents report their child visited a public library in the past 12 months. Parents are actually more likely than other adults to use libraries.

Technology

What did the report reveal about parents, children, and library technology? In some ways, library using parents are a group that views technology very positively. And as the report notes, “Parents’ ties to libraries are all the more striking because parents are more likely than other adults to have computers, internet access, smartphones, and tablet computers — tools that might make them less reliant on libraries because they have access to information and media through other convenient platforms.”

The report found that parents have more interest than other adults in various tech services that are being discussed and implemented among libraries, including online reference services, cell phone apps to connect to library materials, tech “petting zoos” that would allow people to try out new gadgets, and library kiosks or “Redbox”-type offerings in the community to check out books and movies.”

Although 81% of parents think it’s “very important” for libraries to provide public access computers for the community, their interest in using expanded technology services for themselves is moderate. Parents expressed some interest in using other library technology services that might be offered:

46% would be “very likely” to use a cell phone app to access library services
41% say they are very likely to use an online research service where they could pose questions to a librarian
41% would like to see library kiosks located throughout the community where they could check out books, movies or music
37% are interested in personalized online accounts
37% are interested in classes on how to download library e-books (only 25% are interested in a class on how to use e-readers)
34% are interested in a digital media lab for creating digital content

Reservations about Technology

Yet, parents also expressed reservations about technology and its impact on reading (or not reading) books. In a focus group conducted by the Pew researchers, a father said he valued reading print books because they helped model reading habits for his children:

“I’m reading like a book [on a tablet] and my children don’t know if I’m reading a book or if I’m playing on Twitter, so I think it’s important to have the book so that they go, ‘Oh Dad’s reading’ . . . not just, ‘Oh he’s updating his Facebook page.’ I think there is like a difference in that.”

Other members of the focus group expressed similar feelings, saying they valued the relative permanence of printed books because they can be passed down “from generation to generation.” Another parent said that although he sees that e-books have some advantages — for example, they are easier to carry when traveling — “I like those books in my hands sometimes.”

Parents also expressed a desire for the library to provide information literacy learning opportunities for children and also for themselves:

“I believe libraries should take a more active role in teaching patrons—both children and adults—how to interact with digital materials, whether that is computers, digitized materials, e-books, automatic book checkouts, or other devices. The world is becoming increasingly digitized, and many people are falling behind because they are not part of the school system or because the system has failed them. Libraries should step up to the plate and assume responsibility for the digital education of the community.”

and similiarly from a librarian:

“I really want to implement a program teaching digital literacy to young children. I would love to have iPads available for children to come in and use to learn how to properly navigate and consume digital media.”

What Next?

As I finished reading the report and writing this article, I asked my son what he likes about libraries. His response, "All the superheroes." I assumed he meant the books with stories about Spiderman and Batman... but he added, "Like Diana [his favorite librarian]... she's a superhero". I hope that as the years go by and the books and the technology continue to change and merge, that he maintains that positive image of librarians - powerful forces for good in the lives of parents and children.

Technorati Tags: children parents pew report technology