Maywin A. Jackson
S554 Blog Posting #2
Due Feb. 6
Hanging around my neighborhood library watching librarians interact with patrons of all ages, shows me that I really need all the current technical help I can get. The next gens, the baby boomers, teens, tweens, all have such different skill sets and needs. For instance, a baby boomer may need help with word processing or spreadsheets; other patrons may need to find an instructional website; or learn how to IM, and of course, gaming is huge. This class offers me much needed challenges from learning how to apply screen captures, to using podcast tools. In addition, building case studies of an integrated library system, developing a project, and evaluating and testing next generation library catalogs, should just about complete a well rounded LIS education. Except, of course, keeping abreast of any and all ongoing changes in technology that need to be learned just nanoseconds after mastering the current ones.
Although each new technical aspect can be very challenging for me, I feel wonderful when I master something new. Also, my grandsons are so impressed with me when I help them with certain things like Word processing and such.
I am in another of Dr. Ball’s classes which covers Intellectual Freedom issues, and I am trying to master recording and embedding a podcast into the class wiki.
As I improve my skill set, I have been able to help other seniors get comfortable with techy things so they can also be a part of today’s technology either through online communications or in using Excel, Access, or Powerpoint.
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I think it's wonderful that you are so concerned about the digital divide. So many older patrons do not know how to use the resources that their library provides them with. Having a librarian on staff that is willing to work with these older patrons is necessary. We forget sometimes that the reason seniors might not use the library's computers might be because they are afraid to approach it and maybe even embarrassed to ask for help.
ReplyDeleteOops..Forgot to mention a comment I had about the McCook article (Reconnecting.....) I have only been active in the academic world now for 9 years. Author McCook talks about the need for academia/libraries to reshape their mission in order to reconnect with their communities/ (via student service learning). I know that IUPUI has quite a few service learning programs that place students out in the community, but I would think academia could use public libraries as models for these types of programs since public libraries are all about the communities they serve. Have our country's academic libraries changed a lot in this respect since the publication of this article?
ReplyDeleteLibrarians really do seem to be stretched in so many directions these days and have to work hard to keep up with new trends.
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