ALA Cognotes Midwinter Seattle Wrap-Up - (Page 6)

Page 6 • Cognotes ALA Midwinter Meeting Highlights — Seattle PLA Launches Major Digital Literacy Resources for Public Libraries By Stacey Flynn University of Maryland O n January 27, the Public Library Association (PLA) held an update session that included presentations on two important initiatives for public libraries to bridge gaps in public access to technology – the Edge initiative and the Digital Learning Center. “I don’t know if anyone has had a chance to review the new survey results from the Pew Internet Research Project about public library services, but it shows clearly that 91 percent of Americans believe that our services are essential. What else can you say that 91 percent of Americans agree on?” said Jamie Holler, Project Manager for the Digital Learning Center. The two initiatives have separate but related objectives, particularly in terms of targeting underserved populations. Edge, led by Project Manager Mary Hirsh, was formed in 2011 and has just launched a set of benchmarks for public libraries to evaluate and improve technology services. “This is a way for you to measure how your services are benefiting your community and then share the outcomes,” she said. The scores will help to generate guidelines for improvement in the areas of best practices, policies and equipment against an aggregate. The online assessment tool has been developed with extensive feedback and beta testing among the PLA community. “I think it speaks to the importance of this effort that we were able to receive such excellent feedback and support from PLA members,” she said. While Edge is a “library-centric” initiative, the Digital Learning Center is targeted to patrons and will eventually include an extensive community of practice for practitioners. The Digital Learning Center is the result of an IMLS grant to develop online digital literacy tools and will be launched in Beta with a national Ad Council campaign urging the public to make use of their libraries for free online tools, internet access and digital literacy education. Brendon Bowersox-Johnson of Pixo, technical partner, was also on hand during the session to discuss the careful planning and analysis used in designing the site that helped to remove potential barriers to access, particularly for disabled users. Patrons are taken through a series of assessment questions and, based on the results, are presented with a series of high quality interactive tutorials based on skill level. The Beta version will include five tutorials with its launch, but plans Money Smart Week® @ Your Library F or three years, the American Library Association has partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to sponsor Money Smart Week® @ your library. This national initiative between the two organizations provides financial literacy programming to help members of your community better manage their personal finances. Libraries of all types can and do participate in Money Smart Week @ your library, providing programming for all ages and all stages of life on financial topics like basic budgeting; managing student debt; retirement planning; home purchasing; saving money through couponing; and how to prevent identity theft. Last year public, academic, school, and even prison libraries in 39 states participated. Money Smart Week bookmarks and posters may be purchased through ALA at http://www.ala.org/offices/money-smart-week-promotional-materials. Mark your calendars to participate April 20–27, 2013! P Staffing; and Technology. Deadlines are as follows: • March 29, 2013 – Proposals for preconference workshops and concurrent session programs are due. Applicants will be notified by May 31, 2013. • August 16, 2013 – Proposals for ConverStations are due. Applicants will be notified by October 1, 2013. Visit www.placonference.org for more information and a link to the online proposal form. have at least 50 managers nationwide to implement the initiative. Going forward, the team plans to include areas for resources sharing, discussion, best practice wikis and even a gamification section to the site. Katherina Lee and Lee Kee Siang, National Library Board (NLB) of Singapore, discuss the transformation of libraries in Singapore at the ALA Master Series. ALA Masters Series, Library Technology Adoption and Transformation Journey By Talea Anderson University of Washington S PLA Now Accepting Proposals for PLA 2014 Conference LA is now accepting preconference, program and ConverStation proposals for the PLA 2014 Conference, March 11–15, in Indianapolis. PLA welcomes all proposals designed to be educational, thought-provoking, and engaging for public library professionals. Broad session topics include: Administration/Management; Collections/Tech Services; Facilities; Leadership; Marketing/Advocacy; Serving Adults; Serving Youth; are in place to cover such topics as Navigating a Personal Computer, Basic Search Skills, How to Create a YouTube Video, and How to Protect Your Computer from Viruses. For a successful launch, Holler hopes to peaking at the January 26 ALA Masters Series, Katherina Lee and Lee Kee Siang told about innovations in Singapore’s libraries over the last two decades. The latest changes in Singapore have been implemented by the National Library Board (NLB), a government body established in 1994 to make knowledge come alive, spark imagination, and create possibilities. Today the NLB manages 41 public, school, and national libraries that cater to Singapore’s 5.18 million residents. The board’s mission, among other things, was to bring the library to the people, and they have accomplished this, in part, by anticipating future trends in culture and technology. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the NLB implemented three successive programs to improve library services: Library 2000, which focused on refurbishing libraries, recruiting and training staff; Library 2010, which focused on digital infrastructure; and now Library 2020, which aims to change the way people connect. The NLB has been particularly attentive to structuring library services around people’s changing lifestyles. Lee and Siang both noted that several of Singapore’s libraries are built in shopping malls, and that these locations have proven incredibly popular. In addition, the Today the NLB manages 41 public, school, and national libraries that cater to Singapore’s 5.18 million residents. libraries have implemented RFID technology, self-checkout kiosks, a mobile library app (Library in Your Pocket), and projects for digitizing newspapers and collecting citizens’ memories via social media. In the future they hope to make use of linked open data – linkages between patrons and content created by tapping into patron profiles and linked library records. Singapore’s libraries also aim to add features to their mobile application, like mobile book checkout and read-alike recommendations. All of these changes are designed to satisfy library users’ needs more seamlessly in an increasingly digital environment. Because of the NLB’s recent successes, it has been invited to assist other countries in structuring their library programs. Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Malaysia, China, and the United States have all looked to Singapore for inspiration. Lee and Siang encouraged Midwinter attendees who wish to learn more, to attend the upcoming annual International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions conference, to be held in Singapore in August. http://www.ala.org/offices/money-smart-week-promotional-materials http://www.ala.org/offices/money-smart-week-promotional-materials http://www.ala.org/pla/ http://www.placonference.org

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ALA Cognotes Midwinter Seattle Wrap-Up