SLO #6: Technology

 SLO#6:  The student applies appropriate technology for effective information services. 

Image: Stylized library with technology. Source

Technology

The idea that libraries are dusty old buildings filled with tomes is extremely outdated, but how do we keep from becoming so? Librarians have to keep with the newest technology in order to serve their communities effectively. I have been using technology all throughout my MLIS--including the classes themselves, which have all been accessed online via Campus. All of the artifacts in this SLO have been used as evidence for all of the other SLOs, so they have all been cross-posted.

In 2020, the ALA's symposium about the future of libraries in discussed what kinds of technology is likely to be upcoming in the library field. Listed in the article were robots, sustainable materials to deal with climate change, virtual reality, and digital privacy issues. I do not have experience with any of those upcoming technologies, but I do have experience with computer applications (Canva and Campus, for examples), Microsoft office, and digital photography as noted in the examples below.

Technology usage in the MLIS program

Jamestown Public Library Summer Reading: When I was working at Jamestown Public Library, I kept records of the summer reading program. The following is an infographic that I created about the amount of people who participating in summer reading.

My reflection about the infographic is here.

Digital photography (cross-posted as an artifact with communities): I occasionally act in theater productions with Shared Radiance Performing Arts Company. I also volunteered to help with Shared Radiance's teen acting group. For my library media production class, I completed two projects with Shared Radiance: a digital photography slide show from a play rehearsal and a public service announcement from the teen group. Both of these projects were used as a way to advertise the upcoming Shared Radiance show As You Like It and the PSA was used to advertise the teen program. The following image is from the digital photography slide show:

Rehearsal pictures from As You Like It.

Experience the PEWWK: For my collection management class, our group worked together to design a collection around specific topics of interest. We based our library on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and created an imaginary benefactor, Yarwell Pewwk (Pewwk being a humorous acronym for the first letters of our last names). Our paper about the "collection" we created is here and the LibGuide itself that our group created is here. The following graphic is a poster that I created to advertise our "Pewwk collection:"

PEWWK advertisement poster

Technology usage on this blog

Several examples of technology that I have used appear on this blog. The following artifacts also appear elsewhere on this blog, and they show evidence that I can create LibGuides, edit videos, take digital photos, do voiceovers, and create PowerPoints. 

Jen's Rainbow Resources, a guide for LGTBQ youth in Greensboro, North Carolina and surrounding areas, was the first LibGuide I created:

   

Community Center Resources Study: The first is an example of the product that I created with the results of my survey about LGBTQ+ community centers:

Click here to download and view as a PowerPoint show (download
rather than view in Google Drive to preserve formatting)

Click here to download as a PDF 

WWLD: What would librarians do?: What would you do if a patron came into your library demanding that LGBTQ+ books be censored? This video asks librarians to roleplay and discuss how they would deal with each of these "pesky patrons."  (Content warning: homophobia and religious hypocrisy.)

Click here to view as an Mp4
Click here for a plain-text transcript of the video.

    

    Book Club Plan over Anger is a Gift--PDF and PowerPoint

Click here to download and view the
plan as a PDF

Click here to download and view the
plan as a PowerPoint show

    

   Booktalk over Malinda Lo's books--Mp4 and PowerPoint     

Click here to download and view
 the booktalk as an Mp4

Click here to download and view
 the booktalk as a PowerPoint show

Information Literacy Video--View as a PowerPoint show     

Click here to download and 
view the video as a PowerPoint show

 

Two other projects appear on this blog. The first is the Trans student FAQ, and the second one is Neutrality and Libraries.

Conclusion

Computer with balloons and rainbows. Source.

Librarians need to keep their technology skills sharp in order to serve their communities the most effectively. Luckily, I have an interest in technology and enjoy making PowerPoints, taking pictures, and editing videos. Depending on what job I get in the future, I will become proficient in other forms of technology.

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Return to Capstone, or click on other SLOs below:

1. Ethics
2. Research
3. Information Literacy
4. Communities
5. Professional Development
6. Technology
7. Marketing
8. Collaboration

Click on the picture to return to
Jen Reads the Rainbow