ALA Cognotes Midwinter Seattle Wrap-Up - (Page 12)

Page 12 • Cognotes President’s Program » from page 1 are too, you and the fire department and maybe the zoo. Everybody else falls off.” “If you’re looking for a place where trust has not been frittered away or destroyed over time, you’re it.” Block also said the importance of libraries being “already in my neighborhood, that they have adapted well to changing times, and are about the only places where there is still interaction between classes.” He stressed that in our consumer society, “we have outsourced major functions” and that the dominant message is that whatever you need – raising your children, keeping you healthy, keeping you safe, taking care of senior citizens and more – you can buy it. “This means that the functions of the neighborhood have died,” Block added, noting that because of this “if you care about transforming communities, you are very brave.” “So, there’s a job to do; there’s a function for communities,” Block repeatedly pointed out the need to “shift the narrative,” adding that transforming communities is done to help citizens reclaim many of these functions that have been lost. “What keeps us from reclaiming ourselves is our disconnectedness,” according to Block. “It’s the isolation that ALA Midwinter Meeting Highlights — Seattle has grown out of the huge industrial era...we are deeply isolated.” Block cited examples of how neighborhoods with strong social cohesion did better in times of times of disaster than other communities having less connectedness among their citizens. “Transformation involves moving from isolation to engagement,” he added. Block then launched into the heart of the program, having previously said that “the intent of this is to make the [transformation] process explicit enough so you can use it.” Attendees took part in three breakout sessions in which they were encouraged to sit close together and have conversations with each other based on questions they had been given. After each brief session, Block asked for feedback on what people had experienced during these conversations, and responses included several people being struck with feeling a commonality of experiences with others, and feeling deeply grateful for having their experiences being acknowledged by someone else. Block, who suggested that library programming could be better at connecting members of the community with one another, emphasized that what the process is about is “creating the conditions where transformation can happen,” and ended with “you must experience it before you can take it out into the world.” Maker Camp Experience Changes Libraries By Talea Anderson University of Washington O n January 28 a panel of librarians spoke about their experiences participating in MAKE Magazine’s Maker Camp. Working collaboratively, Google and MAKE, a quarterly magazine featuring do-ityourself projects, offer Maker Camp for six weeks in July and August. The camp challenges teens, ages 13-17, to complete 30 DIY projects in 30 days. Camp projects are themed by weekday – Tinkering Tuesday, Weird Science Wednesday,Theoretical Thursday, Field Trip Friday, and so on. This last year, a number of libraries participated in Maker Camp, including Novato Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, and Wichita Public Library. Representatives of these three libraries appeared on the panel and gave their resounding approval of Maker Camp. They admitted that some Maker projects involved a steep learning curve – participants learned sometimes difficult lessons about screwdrivers and glue guns – but, on the whole, Maker Camp increased teens’ confidence, improved the library’s visibility in the community, fostered creativity, and tightened connections between the library and community members. The librarians who participated in Maker Camp emphasized the feasibility of participating in the camp. “Anybody can do this,” said Amber Creger of Arlington Heights Memorial Library. “At our library we only had a $50 budget per month.” The librarians noted that projects can be tailored to individual libraries. If a library lacks particular materials, it can select a different Maker project: the point is to create. Each of the librarians who participated in Maker Camp noted that their libraries were changed by the experience. Creger said that her library has now set aside a 17-square-foot space for do-it-yourself projects. “Anything can happen there,” she said, “It’s magical.” Erin Downey Howerton of Wichita Public Library added that her library is incorporating an “anything space” into its new building. The staff at the library has also changed its mindset, she said. Before Maker Camp, they didn’t think they could create anything but not now, they even set up their own interactive felt Christmas trees with buttons and lights. “I call it gateway drugs,” Howerton laughed, referring to those first projects completed by her library. The Maker Camp participants all encouraged others to participate in camp, or in similar projects that engage teens in crafting and inventing. Howerton summarized the panel’s remarks when she said that Maker Camp inspires library patrons by allowing them to take the things from books and bring them into the real world. This, she noted, is precisely what libraries should be doing. Distinguished speaker and best-selling author Peter Block leads the ALA President’s Program in an interactive discussion about community engagement and the nature of real transformation and what kind of leadership is required to achieve it. YALSA Announces Partnership with Best Buy to Support Digital Library Services for Teens T he Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is proud to announce a partnership with Best Buy to administer donations that will expand programs and improve digital services for teens in libraries across the country. “This partnership is so important to YALSA because it helps us make strides toward fulfilling our mission of expanding and strengthening library services for and with teens,” remarked Jack Martin, YALSA President. Best Buy’s giving focus is to provide teens with access to opportunities through technology to develop 21st century skills. This partnership, with funding from Best Buy, will allow YALSA to direct resources toward closing the digital divide for teens. When Best Buy Mobile opens new locations across North America, YALSA will identify a nearby public or school library to receive a $2000 donation from Best Buy to fund digital library resources for teens. The recipient library will have an opportunity to participate in a community celebration to promote this collaborative partnership. YALSA will also create an online community for the libraries to receive training and support on how to best use these funds for their unique needs in an effort to have the greatest impact on the teens they serve. The online community will also allow for interaction between fellow donation recipients to share knowledge and best practices. For more information on this partnership, Best Buy’s giving, and Geek Squad Services, please visit booth 2643 on the exhibit floor. You can also visit http://pr.bby.com/community-relations/overview/. Assessment in Action: Academic Libraries and Student Success A CRL is seeking applications from all types of institutions for 75 teams to participate in the first year of “Assessment in Action: Academic Libraries and Student Success,” made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Librarians who participate in the year-long program, supported by a blended learning environment and a peer-to-peer network, will lead their campus teams in developing and implementing an action learning project which examines the impact of the library on student success and contributes to assessment activities on campus. In order to apply, each prospective institution must identify a team consisting of a librarian and at least two additional team members as determined by the campus (e.g., faculty member, student affairs representative, institutional researchers, or academic administrator). Apply to participate in the first cohort by Friday, March 8, 2013. Complete details are available on the ACRL website at www.ala.org/acrl/AiA. http://pr.bby.com/community-relations/overview/ http://pr.bby.com/community-relations/overview/ http://www.ala.org/acrl/AiA

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ALA Cognotes Midwinter Seattle Wrap-Up