Libraries are increasingly becoming media mentors for families as digital media use among children rises. As a media mentor, librarians can provide resources and guidance to help families make informed decisions about children's media use. This includes referencing position statements from organizations on developmentally appropriate practices, evaluating media using rubrics, and staying informed on the latest research. Administrative support is needed for media mentorship initiatives, which require time for librarians to learn resources, integrate media guidance into programming, and meet one-on-one with families.

1. Children’s Librarians:
Becoming a Media Mentor
Amy Koester

2. Hello! I’m Amy Koester.
Youth & Family Program
Coordinator, Skokie
Public Library
The Show Me Librarian
Editor & manager,
LittleeLit.com
White paper on Media
Mentorship

3. On Our Agenda
The landscape of children & media
What libraries are doing
Recommendations & position statements
Media mentorship

4. The Current Public Landscape
According to Common Sense Media (2013):
75% of
households
own digital
media
(up from 52%
in 2011)
40% of
families with
kids age ≤8
own a tablet
(up from around
8% in 2011)
72% of
kids ages 0-8
have used
digital media
of some kind

5. The Current Public Landscape
But these are the images families see:

6. Developmentally appropriate much?

7. The Current Library Landscape
Competencies for serving youth include (ALSC
2009):
responding to patron needs
creating enjoyable spaces with access
continually developing tech skills

8. The Current Public Landscape
According to the Young Children, New Media, &
Libraries Survey (2014) of 415 libraries/library
systems:
71% of
libraries use
new media in
programs &
services for
kids
40% offer
tethered
devices
39% use
devices in
storytime
22% of
libraries
provide device
mentoring
services in
some capacity

10. What the Experts Say
AAP (2013):
limit kids’ screen time to
<1-2 hours daily
no screen media
exposure for kids < 2
caregivers should create
family media plans
Christakis’s (2014) op-ed &
the definition of “screen”

11. What the Experts Say
NAEYC/Fred Rogers (2012):
digital media are tools
that can support learning
use must be intentional
use must be
developmentally
appropriate
use must support
learning goals

12. What the Experts Say
Lisa Guernsey (2012):
Content - what is the
specific technology?
Context - how is it
being used?
Child - what are the
individual needs of the
child using it?

13. What the Experts Say
Joan Ganz Cooney
Center (2011):
joint media
engagement
spontaneous &
designed experiences
of people using media
together

14. What the Experts Say
Zero to Three (2014)
caregivers must
participate in screen
time
screen time should be
interactive
caregivers should
extend learning
beyond the screen

15. Media Mentor
/ˈmēdēə ˈmenˌtôr/
noun
1. a person who supports children & their
families in their decisions & practice around
media use
2. a person who has access to, and shares,
recommendations for and research on
children’s media use

16. Your Media Mentor Toolbox
Position statements
Evaluative resources
New & developing research
Support from administrators

17. Position Statements
Know what your key position statements say
AAP
NAEYC/Fred Rogers
Zero to Three
Joan Ganz Cooney

18. Position Statements
Thoughtfully apply these positions to the programs
& services you offer
media is used jointly with an adult caregiver
media is used to further explore a topic
media is a supplement, not a replacement
media use is accompanied by information
consider caregiver appvisory workshops

19. Position Statements
When caregivers ask questions about digital media
use
objectively reference position statements
let families make their own decisions

20. Evaluative Resources
Locate your go-to recommendation sources
Children’s Technology Review
Common Sense Media
Digital Storytime
Horn Book
School Library Journal
Smart Apps for Kids

21. Evaluative Resources
Be critical in evaluating media you are considering
for your library
Find or create a rubric (I like Claudia Haines’s at
nevershushed.com)
Always defer to developmental appropriateness
Remember Guernsey’s 3 Cs

22. Evaluative Resources
Give caregivers tools to be critical in choosing
media for their families
“Is the technology intuitive for your child, or is it
frustrating?”
“Does the technology reinforce learning or
experiences your child acquires off-screen?”
“Can you stand the technology enough to use it
with your child?”

23. New & Developing Research
Keep abreast of new and developing research
Look to institutions
ALSC
Fred Rogers Center blog
Joan Ganz Cooney Center blog
TEC Center at the Erikson Institute

24. New & Developing Research
Be flexible
Be responsive
Be objective

25. Administrative Support
Effective media mentorship takes time
Learning the resources
Thoughtful integration
One-on-one with families

26. Administrative Support
Get supervisors on board
Market media mentorship
Keep learning

27. Implications for the Field
Library programs & services for kids & families may
start to look a bit different as the habits and
lifestyles of kids & families change
State libraries, professional associations, & library
schools all need to respond to a need for training
Libraries continue to be a major community partner
in supporting families

28. Questions?

29. Thanks for being here!
My contact info for further questions:
amy.e.koester@gmail.com
@amyeileenk
showmelibrarian.blogspot.com

30. References
Association for Library Service to Children. (2009). Competencies for
librarians serving children in public libraries (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: ALSC
Education Committee.
American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media.
(2013). Policy statement: Children, adolescents, and the media. Pediatrics,
132(5), 958-961.
Christakis, D.A. (2014). Interactive media use at younger than the age of 2
years: Time to rethink the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline?
JAMA Pediatrics, 168(5), 399-400.
Common Sense Media. (2013). Zero to eight: Children’s media use in
America 2013. Washington, DC: Victoria Rideout.

31. Guernsey, L. (2012). Screen time: How electronic media--from baby
videos to education software--affects your young child. Philadelphia, PA:
Basic Books.
Mills, J.E., Romeijn-Stout, E., Campbell, C., & Koester, A. (Forthcoming).
Results from the young children, new media, & libraries survey: What did
we learn? Children and Libraries.
National Association for the Education of Young Children & Fred Rogers
Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media. (2012). Technology and
interactive media as tools in early childhood programs serving children
from birth through age 8. Washington, DC: Roberta Schomburg & Chip
Donohue.
Takeuchi, L., & Stevens, R. (2011). The new coviewing: Designing for
learning through joint media engagement. New York: The Joan Ganz
Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
Zero to Three. (2014). Screen sense: Setting the record straight:
Research-based guidelines for screen use for children under 3 years old.
Washington, DC: Claire Lerner & Rachel Barr.