Libraries and Transliteracy Bobbi L. Newman www.librarianbyday.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliasgrace/69731338/

For years libraries have focused on literacy, the ability to read, write and interact. http://www.flickr.com/photos/heycoach/1197947341/

People need to be literate in order to be involved in and contribute to society. http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoologist/21317261/

Access to information was through the written word. http://www.flickr.com/photos/98469445@N00/327471676/

Libraries took up the call for literacy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/meredithharris/2129346469/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spursfan_ace/2328879637/ Times are changing.

It is no longer enough to focus solely on the ability to read and write. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgrap/1206462482/

Technology is evolving rapidly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldheretic/2675744701/

Our patrons need us to change. http://www.flickr.com/photos/digidragon/3046266667/

Libraries need to take on the task of ensuring all people are transliterate. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ava_babili/623981238/

Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fijneman/2971210465/

Soon people will need to be transliterate in order to be involved in and contribute to society. http://www.flickr.com/photos/zombizi_rip/1781535606/

It is already happening. http://www.flickr.com/photos/levoodoo/3735045243/

Facebook privacy settings are complex and change frequently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rattodisabina/2460905893/

It is not just on the fun sites. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_mum1968/396209370/

Government agencies are no longer issuing print forms. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbluerock/376090573/

Banks are sending alerts and account balance information via text messages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonjon_2k8/340305918/

Your health insurance plan has a website and you have an account. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chickenlump/2038512161/

The price of computers is dropping allowing more people to own one. http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarianbyday/3686346119/

Free WiFi access points are increasing, allowing more people internet access. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianjmatis/3631670054/

For many people these are new experiences. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sovietuk/378834651/

Experiences they can have with no training, no supervision and no support. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipfixe2a/3938950350/

If we only focus on literacy we are failing our patrons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/photograham/294717421/

In order to best serve our patrons we need to move from literacy to transliteracy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbutterfly/3051019058/

How do we shift our focus to transliteracy? http://www.flickr.com/photos/margolove/1810357551/

Talk with your coworkers and colleagues about it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/deapeajay/3016206629/

Talk with your patrons about it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/3252897830/

Add it to your strategic plan, mission statement and goals. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mohanm/1115980165/

Commit to it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chanwj91/3575432061/ For more information on transliteracy visit www.librarianbyday.net/transliteracy