Role of the library in supporting digital citizenship
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Overview of how libraries support digital citizenship. Delivered at UCISA Digital Capabilities Conference, 2017
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Role of the library in supporting digital citizenship
- 1. The Role of the Library in Supporting Digital Citizenship Leo Appleton, Director of Library Services, Goldsmiths, University of London UCISA Spotlight on Digital Capabilities, Southampton, 25th May 2017 @leoappleton
- 2. What’s it got to do with libraries? ■ Digital library developments ■ Expanding role of libraries ■ Library and Information Science Research ■ Digital inclusion agenda
- 3. What is citizenship? ■ Citizenship involves playing an active part in society (Citizenship Foundation) – “Citizenship means having the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand, challenge and engage with the main pillars of our democracy; politics, the economy and the law” Image credit: ‘Toffs & Toughs’ Jimmy Sine, 1937
- 4. Digital citizenship ■ Digital access ■ Digital commerce ■ Digital communication ■ Digital literacy ■ Digital profiles and reputation ■ Digital law ■ Digital rights ■ Digital wellbeing ■ Digital security ■ Digital footprint http://midlifexpress.com/software-laptop-children/
- 5. Digital literacy ■ “Digital literacy is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills” (ALA Digital Literacy Taskforce, 2011) ■ “The capabilities which fit someone for living, learning and working in a digital society” (JISC, 2015) ■ “Browsing, searching and filtering data, information and digital content. Evaluating data, information and digital content. Managing data, information and digital content” (European Commission, 2016) ■ “Being good with computers” (Iain Baird, 2017)
- 6. Public libraries – Digital citizenship ■ WiFi / Public access to IT ■ Library interfaces (e-resources, apps, etc) ■ Digital literacy for young / old ■ Digital services for business ■ National strategy for digital offer in libraries ■ Digital information skills for library workforce ■ Government’s ‘digital by default’ stance Image credit: Luke Burton, Newcastle Libraries
- 7. Public libraries – in action ■ Digital citizenship resources ■ Job club ■ Universal credit assistance ■ Coding clubs ■ Grid clubs / Homework clubs ■ Google Garage ■ Fix it cafes ■ Arduino workshops ■ Hackspaces / Hack workshops ■ PokemonGo / Minecraft workshops Image credit: Luke Burton, Newcastle Libraries
- 8. Good Things Foundation ■ …a world where everyone benefits from digital... ■ Poverty ■ Digital inclusion ■ Health and wellbeing ■ Loneliness and isolation ■ Employment ■ Small businesses and charities ■ Financial inclusion ■ Community cohesion ■ https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/
- 9. Health and medical libraries
- 10. Academic libraries – Digital citizenship
- 11. Academic libraries – Digital citizenship Image credit: Higher Education Academy, 2014
- 12. More than just digital literacy Image credit: tagxedo.com, 2012
- 13. Thank you for listening….. – l.appleton@gold.ac.uk – @leoappleton
Editor's Notes
- Digital citizenship and the role of the library: some thoughts from the editor I have been thinking recently about 'digital citizenship' and what it means exactly to be a citizen in the 21st century. How do we survive and further develop as citizens in a world which is becoming more and more technologically dependent and much of our daily life is carried out in a digital world, or relies on understanding digital concepts and transactions. Simple things like withdrawing money from the bank, booking hotels rooms, arranging travel, applying for and claiming benefits, tax returns, arranging insurance, renewing memberships, etc. all now rely on a level of digital literacy or understanding, as well as access to computer technology in order to carry out these tasks. There are of course always 'non-digital' options available for those that cannot access the digital landscape (whether it be access to IT or having the necessary skills) but these are now the exception rather than the norm, in much the same way that for many library and information professionals, assisting users in accessing and searching print media is much less common than helping them to navigate the digital information environment. There are of course exceptions (my own art and design environment being one of them) but for the most part we deal in digital, rather than print, and we have continued to develop as a profession accordingly.
- Having always worked in academic libraries I have seen a clear shift from digital to print with regard to how students and researchers are expected to search for, discover and use scholarly information, but similarly the reliance of other technology for learning to occur. For example, a massive move in FE in the 1990s and 2000s was to ‘digitize’ all learning materials – this largely meant digitising course books, and work books. Not particularly revolutionary but it did mean that students needed an element of what we then called computer literacy. Nowadays we take it for granted that student would know their way around a webpage and click on links – transfer that to the way that a VLE or a social media site works and we’re possibly talking about a different kind of literacy – digital literacy? Does it all stem from needing to access a particular type of information? Provide some information, manipulate some information? And acquire the awareness and skills of the relevant digital platform to do this (i.e. using Facebook or filling in a tax return) How does this now sit with library and information professionals? From my own perspective this is where the ‘information’ in the job family ‘Library and information’ professional comes into play. Library and information Science is a fascinating discipline to work and study in. There has never been so much rapid and fast moving change as there is now in the Information Society. When I was training in the mid 1990s we were still being taught to catalogue and classify books and use card indexes, and paper based indexing and abstract systems as well as print periodicals (not dissimilar to the 100 years before in the history of the library). Online information (publically accessible was in its infancy and quite exclusive) Boom! 90% of the world’s data has been produced in the last two years (true in 2013 – true now??) Every day 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created. (25 plus 15 zeros)
- Basically – understanding how to use data and information and wade through those 2.5 quintillion bytes of data generated each day and what it means for you as a participant in your society…. Social media Voucher systems Finding jobs / accommodation Finance and shopping Voucher systems Travel – Oyster cards, etc. Registering to vote – voting! Submitting meter readings
- Digital citizenship and the role of the library Digital access (full and equal electronic participation in society) Digital commerce (buying and selling goods and service online) Digital communication (use of electronic and social media for the exchange of information) Digital literacy (the pedagogy of technology and the use of technology in all aspects of life) Digital profiles and reputation (individual online presence, standards of conduct and etiquette) Digital law (responsibilities for actions and understanding what is deemed legal and illegal) Digital rights (responsible approaches to the freedoms afforded to all in a digital world) Digital wellbeing (physical and psychological health with regard to use of technology and digital activity) Digital security (understanding how to protect oneself) Digital footprint (what happens to your data and personal information)
- This transition, by academic libraries, into the digital age got me thinking about our other library sectors and how they support their users in being 'digital citizens' within their broader contexts. Another professional hat that I wear is being involved in CILIP's special interest group Multimedia, Information and Technology group (MmIT), whose remit it is to provide information and advice and to encourage discussion and debate around all things digital and electronic in the library and information world. During 2016, the group's focus has been on digital citizenship and I have had the good fortune to host three events this year which have focused on the library's role in supporting digital citizenship. What has been fascinating to discover is just how colleagues in other library sectors are supporting different aspects of digital literacy and ultimately digital citizenship for their respective user groups and constituents. For example, many public libraries are actively engaged in hosting and facilitating job clubs (where members search for jobs online and are supported in their applications, CVs, etc.), coding clubs, grid clubs, Google garages, etc. All of these activities take information literacy provision within the library to another level. It is here where we might start to talk about digital literacy, rather than information literacy, but for me they are all variations on a theme of 'information seeking requirements and behaviours' and our public libraries are adapting to make sure that they are offering support that is required to survive in our digital world, and to develop digital citizenship. 151 library authorities, 99.3% of libraries The new National Curriculum in England requires pupils to leave school digitally literate: ‘able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology - at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world E-safety Digital champions project (older people) Business – supporting business start ups – Business and IP centres
- different initiatives and innovations that the public library users on Tyneside are currently enjoying as the library service strives to address the digital inclusion agenda and to enable access to a whole host of digital resources, skills and opportunities. It was fascinating hearing about events such as the coding clubs, Google garage, hack events and Fix It Cafe, as well as the future plans for facilitated workshops around Pokemon GO and Minecraft and the Library Freedom Project. Jackie Widdowson, our second public library speaker of the day. Jacqui is chair of CILIP's Public and Mobile Libraries Group as well as being the library manager at Darwen Library. Jacqui's presentation was entitled 'The role public libraries play in supporting digital literacy' and covered: public library spaces and access to wifi and technology; digital resources and interfaces; adapting and differentiation when providing services for different demographics; and addressing digital literacy skills in library staff through the Code Green Project. Jacqui also discussed the national strategy and the work which has come from the Society of Chief Librarians in developing this. The final part of Jacqui's presentation covered some of the digital resources and initiatives that are going on in various library authorities, and as with Luke's presentation from the morning sessions, it was fascinating to see the breadth and depth of digital support and facilitation enabled through our public libraries.
- It is also through these events that I have learnt about the work of the Good Things Foundation / Tinder Foundation and its mission to tackle digital exclusion throughout the UK. The Tinder Foundation works strategically with public libraries and regard them as essential vehicles for digital inclusion. The Tinder Foundation's 'LearnMyWay' initiative takes digital literacy and activity to the citizenry and public libraries are providing a natural and appropriate infrastructure in supporting the UK Online Centres, through which this initiative is delivered. Key areas of Good Things Foundation are the headings above Tackling digital exclusion ● The strategic importance of libraries ● Building the digital capability of libraries: the opportunity and solutions Three things ● We help the most vulnerable in society engage with technology and use it to improve their lives ● Through a combination of face-to-face support and easy to use digital learning ● Use digital to drive positive outcomes in employment/skills, health/wellbeing, literacy/numeracy ● Almost 2 million people helped since 2010, target to help a further 2 million by 2020 About Tinder Foundation Strategic importance of libraries (1) Libraries are National and hyper-local Equipped with WiFi Wide reach (not just the elderly) Increasing referrals (eg. jobseekers) Local authority Reach Impact Efficiency Access Channel shift Community cohesion Access points to public services Hard to reach groups Brilliant vehicles for digital inclusion 8.Strategic importance of libraries (2) 857 use Learn My Way 2,900 of 5,000 in network £300k in 486 libraries 22k people, 79k courses Libraries are already a critical part of the network Library Digital Inclusion Fund • October 2015-April 2016 • 16 library services funded across England, delivered in over 200 branches • Over 1,600 people supported to gain basic digital skills o/w over 800 gained digital health literacy • Reached vulnerable people • Different models tested: partnership, tablet lending, mobile classroom Library Digital Inclusion Fund - findings • Learners improved their digital skills and confidence • Libraries increased local awareness of their services • 87% of Library Services will continue using Learn My Way, 62% to capture data on digital skills • 94% formed at least one new partnership, 73% thought the project helped them raise awareness of their work with local authorities • Staff have become digitally engaged and some Library Services are continuing to deliver digital inclusion
- What digital literacy means to health librarians. An interesting aspect of the digital litercy agenda in the healthcare sector is how library and information professionals need to be able to address the digital literacy needs of clinicians as well as a patients, both of whom require different support. Digital literacy for clinicians and practitioners requires skills and abilities to effectively search and critically appraise digital information with regard to their evidence based practice, whilst patients need awareness and a support in accessing and using digital and online health services (I.e. Online appointment booking and repeat prescriptions). Kieran concluded with a discussion about how the variety and diversity of digital literacy requirements within the NHS environment, ultimately means that it is a question of how librarians address and support meta-literacy. Similarly, in the health libraries sector, digital literacy for clinicians and practitioners requires skills and abilities to search and critically appraise digital information with regard to evidence based practice, whilst patients need awareness and support in accessing and using digital and online health services (i.e. Online appointment booking and ordering repeat prescriptions). These, again are examples of where health libraries are adapting to meet the digital needs of their citizens, and enabling them to work and live in the digital age.
- I am very fortunate in that I have several professional 'hats' within the library and information environment and each brings with it different experiences. One of my hats is my day job, that of managing academic libraries, which allows me to interact and engage with students as they make use of the services, facilities and resources that we make available to them. It is here that I have happily observed the development of librarians and students alike as they all adapt to the digital age (whether they like it or not) where both information and digital literacies have become intertwined. Similarly increased academic engagement in virtual learning, digital humanities, and social media has enabled librarians to become involved in supporting the academic digital landscape, and in doing so have developed information and digital literacy strategies for supporting the various elements of this new environment: VLEs; online profiles and reputations; digital security; digital research support, research data management; altmetrics, etc. In effect, academic libraries are now fully involved in supporting their users and developing them as 'digital citizens'.
- A third professional hat that I am fortunate enough to wear is that of LIS researcher, in that I am just over half way through a part time PhD study into the value and impact of UK public libraries on citizenship development. The empirical part of this research has allowed me to run focus groups in public libraries all over the UK and talk to library users about how their public library usage enables their citizenship. I suppose this is where my interest in 'digital' citizenship stems from but it is quite exhilarating (from a librarian's perspective) to hear stories about how lives are changed through the support provided by librarians and library staff in enabling access to digital technologies and computers to providing skills training to make use of the digital resources and facilities. The findings of this research will be written up and shared in due course, but how wonderful it is to hear from real public library users how it is the public library that enables them to participate in society and community activities. Some examples of how libraries do this is through providing access: to wifi and the Internet so that they can stay informed about local political activities; to after school computer clubs and homework clubs where school students can make extended use of PCs; to skilled employability support and job clubs; to high-tech digital music and film editing facilities and support; to simple access to a PC to write a letter to the local newspaper. In many in many cases the library users are often quite unaware of how the library is supporting and developing them as digital citizens, as they are simply going to the place that they know will help them. The fascinating thing about unearthing these stories through my research is that it becomes clear that all libraries have adapted, whether strategically planned or not, in order to support their users in various aspects of digital citizenship and ensure that they are not excluded.