. . . Why We Need To Transform The Way We Teach Digital Literacy In Public Libraries via Newslet

Savvy but not quite literate: why we need to transform the way we teach digital literacy in public libraries

Connected Kirsty: 5.01.2019 by Kirsty Roberts

Newslet for Libraries

The digital age is upon us.

Of course, we’ve existed within a technological landscape for some time – personal computers have been around for more than 40 years, the internet has now been in the public domain for 26 years, and smartphones have been marketed as such since the early 2000s – but the ubiquity of these technologies, of the internet, is a comparatively new phenomenon. Digital devices and the internet have become an increasingly essential part of our everyday lives. Many of the services we rely on – for banking and paying our bills, for job applications, for accessing our health and government records, for critical information – are moving towards exclusively digital access, whether we are ready for them to do so or not.

There’s no denying it – we are no longer able to remain disconnected without risking isolation from the wider community.

So, where do libraries fit in?

Libraries have made great strides in bridging the ‘digital divide’ – that is, the divide between those who are digitally literate and those who are not. Public libraries, in particular, are supporting and increasing digital literacy by providing:

➤Access to computers and mobile technologies

➤Access to wired and wireless internet connections

➤Instructional classes teaching both basic and advanced computer, internet, and mobile technology skills

➤Opportunities to test out emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality and 3D printers

These opportunities play a critical role in increasing digital literacy levels within the community – there are numerous reports detailing the importance of these sessions in the lives of the elderly population, those seeking employment, those living in rural and regional areas, and those of socially diverse and non-dominant backgrounds – but they often fail to address a particularly relevant issue in today’s society: online information and media literacy.  READ MORE >>

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From:

Newslet for Libraries Issue 120, 14 May 19

a free curated newsletter for library & information professionals.

Artefactors: Librarians & Makers. London-based creative tech company. We work with cultural organisations to bring innovative ideas to life.