News & Views, May 2010 (mp3 file; 3.4 MB; 3:37 min.)Technology Projects; "Just Ducky"
We continue to have questions about technology from all of you, and in response to a couple of questions, especially, that have come up frequently we have begun a couple of projects.
First, as I was out and about visiting libraries this week several librarians asked me about technology they could be considering for their libraries. You and your boards are thinking about how to keep the library in the technology game in order to be able to anticipate and meet your patron's technology questions and needs--good for you! Katie from Southeastern Library Services and I have been putting together a list of things that you might consider for your wish list. You likely won't want all of them at this point, but it's a starting point for your consideration and your prioritizing. You can find it at www.swilsa.lib.ia.us/techwishlist.htm
Secondly, several of you have talked with me about self-paced learning for yourselves and for your staff, and particularly in the area of technology. While many of you attend workshops and webinars we know that sometimes you need to be able to time and pace your learning to your own schedule. The question began to come in just as WebJunction was finalizing their "Competencies Index," which included technology competencies. Starting with those competencies, and adding a few suggested by Andrew in Clarinda, we are building a wiki with links to resources to help learn about, and acquire competency, in 6 general technology areas: e-mail, application software, hardware, operating systems, Internet and social media.
Each section will include a pre-evaluation to help you assess the specific competencies on which you might want to focus, and a post-evaluation to help you "test" what you've learned. The e-mail section is nearing completion, though I don't expect any of them will ever be complete as we find more resources and update the links. We invite you take a look at the wiki, try out some of the links, and give us your suggestions. You can find the wiki at:
librarytechcomps.pbworks.com
Links from Today's Podcast:
Library Technology Wish List
Library Technology Competencies
Early Childhood Literacy website
