All Things Digital
September 22, 2012 - 8:30am - 10:00am
Westin Century BC
All Conference Session | This interactive talk will provide an opportunity to explore the future of library services with experts leading some of the profession’s most innovative and ambitious projects; including the Digital Public Library of America, “Building Digital Communities: A Framework for Action”, “Edge Initiative & Benchmarks”, and "Connect to Compete". This session is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Track:
Technology and Innovation
LIS StudentsLIS FacultyLibrary StaffSchool LibrariansPublic LibrariansAcademic LibrariansLibrary Managers & Administrators
Speakers
- Anthony D. Smith, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Library and Museum Services
- Dr. Charles J. Henry, President, Council on Library and Information Resources
- Jake Cowan, Senior Program Manager, Urban Libraries Council
- Dr. Jon Patrick Gant, Research Associate Professor, Director for the Center for Digital Inclusion, & Director UC2B Broadband Adoption Program , Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Comments
“Digital literacy” seems to
“Digital literacy” seems to be a buzz word today, and it’s clear that people need an understanding of the digital tools and resources that are available to compete in the 21st century. However, when you look at different organizations that focus on “digital literacy,” it seems as if they are working with different sets of definitions. One definition of digital literacy seems focused on computer and internet access skills (for finding jobs, etc.) while other definitions focus on online social responsibility, while still others focus on authorship and issues of representation. How are you defining “digital literacy,” and what are some priorities in each of the projects that are outlined here to address fostering a more digitally literate public?
Defining Digital Literacy
Hannah,
I think that "Building Digital Communities," http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/BuildingDigitalCommunities.pdf takes a good approach to defining "digital literacy" by indicating that it is unique for each community and must be defined within the context relative to any particular community. I think this would hold true to an even greater degree at the individual level. With that being said, I'm not so sure that a standard core set of digital literacy skills are outside of the realm of possibility. The Edge Initiative (http://www.libraryedge.org/filebin/pdf/ULC_EDGE_Framework_Final.pdf) is evaluating whether a core set of digital literacy training support services are available in libraries. It is my understanding that this is the first attempt to establish national standards.
To address the last part of your question, I would refer you back to "Building Digital Communities" where there have been several priority areas identified: economic development, education, job training, health care, emergency management, social connection. I suspect this list will evolve over time as individual and community priorities evolve.
Thanks for your question and I would encourage others to join this conversation.
Not yet post-digital divide
As an academic librarian I find that the misperception that we live in a post-digital divide is a barrier that impacts the appropriateness of our resources and the support we are able to provide our students.
Because there are computer labs available on campus there seems that administrators and faculty often believe that access to technology is a non-issue. But at the Library we regularly see students who may have no computer at home, or have no printer at home and lack funds for printing at school, or have a computer but no internet access.
In draft plans for a new library on campus there were only 8 computer stations for a very large community college! The thinking behind this was that everyone would just bring their own laptop.
What approaches and strategies do you suggest for articulating the significance of the continued divides that exist not just in access to technology, but in the related information literacy skills to stakeholders and decision makers.
Not yet post-digital divide
Not even close to the "post-digital divide" era. Having worked in both public and private academic libraries, I can certainly relate to the challenges that can sometimes occur surrounding the appropriate level of technology to support student activity. I would expect that the basic framework behind "Building Digital Communities" could be applied to a higher education community with some modifications. It may be a way to begin having dialogue about how digital inclusion is defined and how the institution could best move forward with filling gaps.
Mobile phone use
The Pew Internet & American Life Project's new research shows that a majority of minority users get online using mobile phones for their online experiences. Connect to Compete is doing a great job of getting better technology hardware out there for disadvantaged patrons.
But what else are librarians doing about these study results? Are they getting familiar with new software to create apps that are easier to access? And are they offering instructional programs on how to access Android and Apple apps to help users and other instruction on tips to get the most of their online experience through their mobile devices? What else is being done or in the works to help users that are confined to a mobile device for internet access?
Google Fiber
I've listened and read with interest recent news stories about Google Fiber bringing broadband to Kansas City.
This article in particular: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/us/in-one-city-signing-up-for-internet... discusses the particular challenge in getting sign-ups in African American communities. This includes discussion on how this imbalance "has inflamed the long racial divide here, stoking concern that it could deepen."
I would be interested in hearing from the panelists on their thoughts on what Google is doing in KS, MO, and more broadly what the roles for libraries of all types (not just public libraries) and librarians in bridging this divide.
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