It’s time for libraries to stop functioning like grocery stores where people simply come to get stuff and start acting more like kitchens where people come to create and tell their own stories. This program will provide insights into why libraries need to start empowering users of all ages to work with videos, music, podcasts, and graphic design. Also, hear about “StoryTubes”, an exciting yet simple project that combines kids’ interest in technology with their love for books and reading. We’ll end with some tips on how to create a simple digital media lab for you library.

The main point of the presentation is that libraries need to stop functioning only like grocery stores where people simply come to get stuff and start functioning like kitchens where people do stuff and create stuff. Joyce Valenza wrote about this metaphor after hearing Joan Frye Williams speak on it back in 2008. Here are my slides from this presentation:

The second presentation was much shorter as I was part of a panel discussing examples of transliteracy in action at libraries. Here’s the description for this program:

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. This session looks at the practical aspects of what we can do to help our patrons become transliterate citizens, including real world examples from academic, public and school libraries. Sponsored by LITA Transliteracy Interest Group.

Here are my slides for that presentation.

Thanks to Bobbi Newman for inviting me to take part in this program. And thanks to everyone who attended both of these presentations today. Please leave a comment here if you’d like to continue the conversation!

A few years later, when I was enrolled at Michigan’s School of Information, I was fortunate enough to have a much more rewarding internship at the local public library. This position allowed me to rack up lots of hours working at a public service desk, providing reference services, and it also gave me a chance to work on some programming and collection development. Most importantly, though, I had many opportunities to talk shop with some talented, knowledgable librarians who welcomed me as a professional colleague. I often find myself telling people how much that experience helped me in the first few years of my career and I try to encourage current students to seek similar opportunities. I like to think that I hit the ground running in my first full-time job because of what I learned in my part-time jobs during grad school. I wasn’t the only one who benefited from this either, as they had many more students in these paid internships before, during, and after the time I was there. We were all very lucky.

I’m now fortunate enough to be in a position at my library in which I can help create this type of learning opportunity for current students. My colleagues and I have formed a new internship in the Information Services department. This “Reference and Teen Services” intern will have the chance to work at the “Answer Center” (i.e., our reference service point), teach tech classes, plan programs, develop collections, and contribute to some larger upcoming projects. Plus, we were able to find a way to make this a paid internship and I’m hoping this will continue in the years to follow.

Still, as much as we want this to be a positive thing for a current student, there is also the expectation that this will benefit the library by adding a new voice and a fresh perspective. There’s something to be said about adding that extra ingredient to the mix and seeing what comes out of it. Every department in every library can benefit from new ideas and a new set of eyes on what we’re already doing, and I’m counting on this intern to provide this. At the end of the day, this is an investment in a future librarian, in our library, and in libraries in general.

So, what can you do to provide an similar learning experience at your library? Even if you’re not able to make it a paid internship, is there a way you can carve out an opportunity (maybe for course credit) for a local student interested in finding a career in libraries? Which departments and roles would work best for your own internship program? Or, are you already offering an internship at your library? What’s making it a successful program?

http://apalaweb.org

Ned Potter has created a great slide deck to give people a better idea of what librarians and other information professionals do these days. Check it out!