This document discusses using apps in youth programming at libraries. It provides examples of how libraries are using apps in storytimes, programming like "app play" sessions, circulating devices loaded with educational apps, and training teens to be media mentors. Specific app suggestions are given for different age groups, like using StopMotion for stop-motion videos with school-aged children or photo editing apps with teens. Challenges with app use like passwords, updates, and funding are also addressed. Resources for finding quality apps and best practices are provided.

1. Apps for Your Youth Department
Angela Dubinger
adubinger@library.in.gov
Children’s Services Consultant
Indiana State Library

2. Who am I? Who are You?

3. So you’ve got an iPad…

4. Media Mentorship

5. Media Mentorship - Objectives
• how to identify and support the roles librarians
serve as media mentors to families in your
community;
• evidence-based guidelines for media usage with
young children
• how to partner with libraries to enrich your
family engagement effort and support the goals
of your educational program

6. Media Mentorship
• 72% of kids ages 0-8 have used digital media
• Parents and adults want to know what’s best
• What’s ok for my child? We can help with
“appvisory” and “appplay!”
• Not all tech is created equal. Have you seen the
educational apps section of an app store?

7. Why Apps?
• Mobile/touch interface is easy
• Focus on the content and leave the tech behind
• More accessible for those with special needs, and really,
accessibility for all
• Creation and Interaction (not just consumption)
• Publishing, coding, makerspaces, videos

8. How are
libraries using
these?

9. How are libraries using these?
• Using digital media in storytimes
• App Play and App-visory in Programming –
Digital Literacy
• Library programs that utilize technology
• Mounted devices
• Circulating devices
• Curated lists of apps & technology
• Training teens as media mentors

10. Storytimes?
• Who plans and performs storytimes here?
• Anyone use any digital media in your
storytimes?

11. In Storytime – Joint Media
Engagement
• 39% use digital media in
storytimes: apps, music
• We still want to encourage
interaction w/app use
• Supports what we already do!
• Consider tech: adaptors,
set-up to mirror the screen

12. Circulation and Display
• There are some libraries who have purchased
iPads, loaded them up with educational games
and other apps and circulated them to their
patrons.
• Mounted/tethered tablets – ex. Krayola kiosk
• Mobile labs

13. Circulation and Display

14. App Play and Advisory
Programming
• How to use a specific app
• Appy Hour – share apps that you’re using with
others
• Informal learning, skill enhancing or content
creation
• Teen volunteers – train your teens to be mentors
with digital media
• Happy Tappers for preschoolers or young kids

15. School Age
• Have an iPad class or app class – digital literacy
• Digital storytelling – story arc (Toontastic)
• Tellagami – video with avatar
https://tellagami.com/

16. School Age
• iPad poetry –
+ Penultimate app – journal/paper & ink look
+Instant Poetry 2 – photo + “magnetic” words
+ Poems by Heart app – recitation,
memorization; record your own voice

17. School Age
Instant Poetry 2 example

18. School Age
STEM – app to introduce and support a program:
• “Bats! Furry Fliers of the Night”
• “The Human Body”
• “Our Amazing World: Owls”

19. School Age
Tinkerbox – physics puzzle game; teaches basic
engineering concepts

20. School Age
StopMotion Videos – Lego app, Smoovie

21. School Age
Let’s take a look at some apps!

22. Teens – Photo editing & Videos
• Make movies and GIFs – GIFFer is a great app/iPhone
• Kong – make selfie GIFs;
+meme machine
+ group messenger

23. Teens – Videos
• Video ----iMovie, Animoto (pro is worth investment for
more options)
• Stop Motion----Stop Motion Recorder app, iMovie,
Flipbook
Teen Librarian Toolbox blog– Karen Jensen, et. al
http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2015/08/makerspace-making-movie-m

24. Teens – Art & More
• Brushes – iPad painting
• Keezy – music maker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Foo7b0BCmaY
• Mad Libs

25. Teens – Art & More
• Manga Camera

26. Teens – Art & More
• LongExpo – Light Painting program

27. Challenges
• The dreaded passwords and accounts - licensing
• Updating devices
• Settings
• Small vs. Large Groups
• Paying for it
• Storing/Charging, Syncing, and all those
accessories!
• Partner with your systems/tech staff

28. What makes a good app?
• Simple
• No ads!
• Great graphics
• Enhances and doesn’t distract
• For preschoolers: it encourages joint media
interaction

29. Finding Apps
• Common Sense Media - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-lists
• www.appfriday.com
• SLJ – Touch and Go -
http://www.slj.com/category/technology/applications/
• Kirkus Reviews – https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ipad/
• Find the Developers you like and go after their freebies
• Young Children, New Media, and Libraries: A Guide for Incorporating
New Media into Library Collections, Services, and Programs for Families
and Children Ages 0-5 - LittleELit book written by librarians and educators
http://littleelit.com/book/ - also includes evaluation rubric -
https://littleelit.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/evaluation-of-new-media-
haines-kluver.pdf

30. Resources
• Best Practices for Apps in Storytimes – Cen Campbell presentation
(LittleELit.com) -
https://ala.adobeconnect.com/_a1087453682/p73yvn708l8/?
launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal
• Media Mentorships in Libraries Serving Youth – 2015 white paper & ALSC
webinar, features other resources -
http://www.ala.org/alsc/mediamentorship
• AASL’s Best Apps for Teaching and Learning -
http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-apps/2015
• 50 Ideas for Mobile App Use in Libraries - http://nicolehennig.com/ideas-
for-creative-uses-of-mobile-apps-in-library-services/
• 8 Great Apps for Creating Stop-motion Videos
• http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/03/8-great-ipad-apps-for-
creating-stop.html

31. Angela Dubinger
adubinger@library.in.gov
Indiana State Library
317-234-5649