1. Digital Literacy in Academic
Library Spaces
Matthew Gunby, MLIS
graduate Syracuse
University 2012
2. Information Literacy
• “focus on content, communication, analysis,
information searching, and evaluation.”
– Extent/managing need
– Access efficiently/effectively
– Evaluate sources
– Incorporate into overall understanding
– Purpose driven
– Understand the issues in the broader societal
context
7. What Can Academic Libraries do
Internally?
• Assessment
• Don't assume
• Leery faculty
• Tailor to needs
8. What Can Academic Libraries Do For
the Broader Community?
• Aid high school seniors.
• Provide a space.
• Be an anchor institute.
• Collaborate
9. This is Not a Public Library Issue
It is An Issue of Librarianship
10. Resources
• The Association of College and Research Libraries (2000). Information literacy competencies for higher education.
http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/standards/standards.pdf
• The Association of College and Research Libraries (2013). Information literacy competencies for higher education.
http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency
• British Columbia Ministry of Education (2013). Digital literacy standards.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/dist_learning/dig_lit_standards.htm
• Common Core (2013). About the standards. Common Core state standard initiative. http://www.corestandards.org/about-
the-standards
• Digital Literacy Taskforce (2013). Digital literacy, libraries, and public policy. District Dispatch.
http://www.districtdispatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2012_OITP_digilitreport_1_22_13.pdf
• DigitalLearn.org (2013). About. http://digitallearn.org/about
• EveryoneOn.org (2013). Our partners. http://www.everyoneon.org/our-partners/
• Jenkins, H. (2006). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. Building the
field of digital media and learning. http://digitallearning.macfound.org/atf/cf/%7B7E45C7E0-A3E0-4B89-AC9C-
E807E1B0AE4E%7D/JENKINS_WHITE_PAPER.PDF
• Morison, M (2012). Is higher education perpetuating class hierarchy. Decisions based on evidence.
http://www.decisionsonevidence.com/2012/03/is-higher-education-perpetuating-class-hierarchies/
• Mortenson, T. (2010). Family income and educational attainment 1970-2009. Postsecondary education opportunity.
http://www.postsecondary.org/last12/221_1110pg1_16.pdf
• Oakleaf, M. Owen, P. (2010). Closing the 12-13 gap: Schools and college librarians supporting 21st century learning. Teacher
librarian. http://meganoakleaf.info/oakleafowensyllabi.pdf
• Zickuhr, K. Smith, A. (2012). Digital differences. Pew Internet and American life project.
http://pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Digital_differences_041312.pdf
11. Images
• Shanks, P. http://www.flickr.com/photos/botheredbybees/3490492324//
• Engard, N. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nengard/5755231642/
• King, D. http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidking/2584489931/
• Korall. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Head_in_the_sand.JPG
• Mortenson, T. http://www.decisionsonevidence.com/2012/03/is-higher-
education-perpetuating-class-hierarchies/
• Courtney, K. http://kylecourtney.com/
Digital Literacy is “the interest, attitude and ability of individuals to appropriately use digital technology and communication tools to access, manage, integrate, analyze and evaluate information, construct new knowledge, create and communicate with others in order to participate effectively in society”.ManagementAccessEvaluateIntegrationCreation/CommunicationParticipation/empowerment
Why ENY-ACRL?Why User Experience?
Open source software, open access journals, library holdings, and other free and open resources.Communication applications and participation within a digital space.
Those with high school degree or less far less likely to use the Internet. Is it fair to say that those who are not accessing the Internet are also not attending higher education?Perhaps not, but there are stark socio-economic factors that seem to show that many who are economically unable to attend or finish college are also not accessing the Internet. Is this a form of institutionalized prejudice?
“The education system is an increasingly powerful mechanism for the intergenerational reproduction of privilege.” (Anthony Carnevale)
First two are connected. Provide digital literacy assessment in early library sessions then follow-up with digital literacy programs as appropriate. Do not assume digital natives are necessarily digitally literate. Recognize that faculty may be leery of technologies as well. Are there ways the librarian can help fill this void so that student needs are met, and the faculty member gains some experience without feeling spoken down to. Particularly within the context of this conference, we must understand that getting everyone to adopt the same technology is not a worthy goal. We need to make resources accessible to as wide an audience as possible by reaching different types of learners, and generally removing barriers to entry.
Megan Oakleaf paper on connecting senior classes with college resources.Many applications require an email address but many entering the digital space do not wish to share personal information with Google or Yahoo, can libraries give email addresses using their server space to participants and then delete them?Assuming the academy knows the problems of a community is not only inaccurate, but can often create resentment.Help public and school libraries write project plans and produce or find valuable tutorial videos based on community needs.
E-books may have once seemed like a public library issue, yet even if it remains mostly so, licensing is something that crosses into most libraries.Just as fair use and copyright are issues of librarianship so too is digital and information literacy.
