I haven’t been able to stop thinking about transliteracy and how important the concept is for libraries and librarians. I’ve created a slideshow I hope conveys the message and is easy to share. I have also added page with information on transliteracy. Libraries and Transliteracy View more presentations from Bobbi Newman. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Share on FriendFeed Buzz it up Share on netvibes share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Buzz it up Subscribe to the comments on this post Print for later Tell a friend
Posts Tagged ‘ Librarians ’
Libraries Need to Focus on Transliteracy
Libraries have focused on literacy, the ability to read, write and interact, for years. It is an important service to our patrons and our communities. People need to be literate in order to be involved in and contribute to society. Times are changing, technologies are evolving rapidly, it’s no longer enough to focus on the ability to read and write alone. If we only focus on literacy we are doing a disservice to our patrons. Just as libraries took on the task of helping to ensure all people are literate, now we need to take on the task of ensure all people are transliterate. What is transliteracy? Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks. – wikipedia Soon people will need to be transliterate in order to be involved in and contribute to society. It is already a requirement to participate in some aspects of our society and it will only become more so. Government agencies are no longer issuing print forms, you have to access them online. Your health insurance plan was a website and
If you don’t love what you’re doing, do something else.
Last week an MLS student interviewed me for a project. The last part of my reply to her was this: Find a job you love. No one goes into librarianship for the money. We go into it for love. There a plenty of bitter, disenchanted people out there in all professions. If you don’t love what you’re doing, do something else. I think it bears repeating. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Share on FriendFeed Buzz it up Share on netvibes share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Buzz it up Subscribe to the comments on this post Print for later Tell a friend
Yes I am a Digital Branch Manager, No I Do Not Regularly Build Bonfires of Print Books in My Backyard & Dance Around Wearing Warpaint
Not regularly, actually, not ever. I keep seeing the perception that by going digital, being aware of and, gasp! even using technology means that librarians and libraries are throwing aside traditionally services in favor of sexy new toys like Twitter. That in order for a library to have a Facebook profile first we have sacrifice 100 books to the Social Media gods. As a Digital Branch Manager I have nothing against books, heck, I think we should have more books. At home, in my personal library, I probably have more books at home than some of my “traditional” peers. Do not get rid of the books. I do think libraries need to develop along with the society they serve. I don’t understand the people who want libraries to continue to be about the book; solely about the ink and paper book. The world is evolving at an amazing rate, nothing is standing still. Why shouldn’t libraries move forward? If we stand still how will we serve our patrons as they move forward? So many people see the addition of new services as a threat to the old. I don’t think anyone is planning to throughout the baby with the bathwater.
What’s the matter with our profession?
It’s a question many of us with an MLS, and those without, struggle with. Just take a look at the Library Day in the Life blog entries. You’ll see a wide, and I mean WIDE, range of variety in how we spend our days, weeks and years and our education levels. Matt Hamilton wrote a post with some observations on the field, he’s about to graduate with an MLS and he’s the Library Innovation and Technology Manager at the Boulder Public Library. He points to some problems in the field, namely the wide variety of what we do. I agree with him when he says : The field is not in good shape. I don’t think adding “information” to the MLS is the answer, either. I don’t think that by further genericizing the profession by calling ourselves “Information Professionals” is any kind of an answer either.. I don’t completely agree with his solution. It’s time to stop making our field generic in the I-schools, and to let our students get the specialized skill-set they need. And I don’t mean that you take a “track” that consists of three classes providing a shallow introduction to your area of specialization. I mean
Reading
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