The public library of Vlissingen’s mission is to develop people’s skills and knowledge to become fluent with information and media in order to participate actively in the knowledge society. To realize this ambition, the library has developed a ‘media literacy framework’.

1. Public Libraries & Media Literacy Web 2.0 Services and Strategies for Making Children & Other Citizens Information- and Media-Literate CIL 2010 - Karolien Selhorst

2. Program workshop Introduction The media literacyframework of the Public Library of Vlissingen How to develop a media literacyframework for yourcommunity? Tips Evaluation Questions

3. Introduction

4. The media literacyframework in Vlissingen Public libraries and media literacy

5. Why media literacy? With an ever-increasing number of new digital media available in the 2.0 world, the enormous amount of information has become overwhelming for many people. At the same time, information has become an essential condition for citizens to be able to actively participate in society. ‘Digital natives’ grow up in a world of new media => they learn and live differently.

6. The Public Library of Vlissingen Vlissingen is situated in the heart of Zeeland (The Netherlands). Vlissingen is an important port and a popular haven for tourists with 44 500 inhabitants. The library has 14 500 customers (30% of the population). 45 people work at the library. Apart from the main building, the library provides services for the nearby situated village, the local hospital and several schools.

7. Library Mission “To develop people’s information and media literacy skills in order to participate actively in the knowledge society.” Strong focus on: ‘Media wisdom’ and reading promotion for varioustarget groups Informationfunction = providingtailor-madeinformation to customers

8. Media wisdom = media literacy? The need to help children and other citizens to become information and media literate in the knowledge society is acknowledged by Dutch government and public libraries in the Netherlands. A number of policies and practices have been developed. New media literacy skills = ICT skills, information literacy skills and safe usage of media. Media wisdom = Dutch term

9. Opportunities for libraries Support citizens in developing information skills and, more broadly, media wisdom. The fact that users increasingly play a central role in the distribution and organisation of content means the traditional guiding function of libraries is being pushed more to the background. Librarians can still use their expertise to help users become self-reliant in dealing with information and media. For many users, the sheer amount of information available makes it impossible to see the wood for the trees. For adult users, in particular, who can no longer be reached via mainstream education, there is a socially important task for libraries here.(< The future of the Dutch public library: ten years on, p.190)

10. Opportunities for libraries Although the role of the library as a gateway to knowledge and information is under pressure due to external competition, the traditional expertise of the library in searching for reliable sources still offers an opportunity in this era of excessive information. The library can help people find their way through this access, and boost their ‘media wisdom’. A ‘new’ form of library service is to support citizens in the development of ‘media wisdom’. Libraries have a tradition of helping in the instruction of information skills, but media wisdom is a broader concept than this, incorporating the knowledge, skills and mentality to deal with all content, not just informative content (cf. Raad voor Cultuur 2005; Verheijen & Van Driel 2007). (< The future of the Dutch public library: ten years on)

12. Goal: one library in everyprimaryschool in Vlissingen.

13. Wealreadyreach 600 children.

14. Focus on:

15. Stimulatinglanguageskills (vocabulary – reading comprehensionskills) and informationliteracyskills

17. Childrenget more joy out of reading.

19. Coaching and supportingteachers ‘11 Thingsforprimary school teachers’ < 23 Things by Helene Blowers Pilot project with 10 teachers Goal: important groups in society (liketeachers) need to beaware of the pros and cons of newinteractive tools – web2.0 - on the internet. 11 ‘Things’: blogs, RSS, Flickr, digital blackboards, socialnetworks, wiki’s, Delicious, YouTube, chat. FromApril on: 23 Things

20. Coaching and supportingteachers ‘11 Things’ pilot project Coaching by library media coaches: face to face and virtual. Results: 50% passed the coursesuccessfully. Barrierswere: time, relevancy, independent learning, insufficientknowledge of web1.0.

21. ‘11 Things’ forprimary school teachers

22. Coaching and supportingteachers Guestlecturesabout relevant media wisdom themes and subjects: Collaboration (on the net) Socialnetworks Chat The use of photos on the internet Gaming Virtual learningtools Goal: to support teacherssothattheycaninformchildren.

23. Informing parents – creatingawareness Parents’ nightsfocusing on relevant media wisdomthemes: Cyberpesting The influence of media and advertising on children Safebehaviour on the net Internet addiction and violence on the net Goal: to inform parents sothattheycan support and coach theirchildren. Start: fall 2010

24. Teaching and supportingchildren The development of ‘Things’ for children Will beintroduced in class + virtual coaching: ‘blendedlearning’ . Goal: to makechildrenaware of new media and givethemtools to learn more efficiently. Themesor ‘things’: Collaboration on the net Socialnetworks Chat The use of photos on the internet Gaming Virtual learningtools

25. The libraryis the heart of the school Threecertified mediacoaches work in ourlibrary. They help and support childrentogetherwithotherlibraryworkers. Childrencanapplyfor the function of libraryworker => involvesthemdirectly. Close collaboration withteachers and schoolboard.

26. Reaching out to other target groups… Localcity council: ‘15 Things’ forlocal city councillors= makingthemaware of web2.0 opportunitiesforcitizeninteraction. General audience: Web2.0 and ebooks workshops. Information about the digital library and media wisdomthemes on ourlibrary blog. Library workersin Vlissingen: 23 Things, workshops, knowledge lunches, communities of practice etc..

27. Biebblog

28. ‘15 Things’ for city councillors

30. Strong focus on media wisdom:

31. Gueslectureson the use of Wikipediaforstudents in secondary schools.

32. Workshops on the use of Wikipedia in educationforteachers.

34. Developyourown media literacyframework Step 1: Start withyourlibrary mission/vision in mind. Step 2: Get to know yourcommunity. Step 3: Develop a media literacy vision. Step 4: Develop a media literacy program. Step 5: Test and evaluate. Step 6: Prepare for implementation. Step 7: Promoteyour program and createawareness.

35. Step1: Start withyourlibrary mission Whatisyourlibrary mission/vision? What are yourstrategic goals? Whatis the linkbetween the library mission and media literacy?

36. Step2: Get to know yourcommunity Whoisyourcommunity? What are theirneeds? Do you know them? How do youmeetthem? On what groups willyou focus?

37. Step 3: Develop a media literacy vision Develop a coherent media literacy vision. Link itwithyourlibrary mission/vision. Involveothers in the developmentprocess. Promote and communicateit!

38. Step 4: Develop a media literacy program Be creative! Seek inspiration withothers: social networks, etc.. Create alliances. Involveenthousiasticcolleagues. What are yourmeans?

39. Step 5: Test and evaluate Test your program/initiatives. Evaluate: whatworks and whatdoesn’t? Actuponevaluationresults. Learn for the future.

40. Step 6: Prepare for implementation Draw up an action plan (who, when, what?) Sellyourideas and createinternalawareness. Get management support. Implement.

41. Step 7: Promote and createawareness Buildstrategic alliances in your local community. Visitschools/schoolboardsand addressthempersonally. Be prepared: whoshouldyouaddress? What are the school’sneeds? Whatcommunity do they serve? Createawareness. Offertailor-made programs. Be prepared for resistance.

42. Tips Public libraries and media literacy

43. Tip 1: Be preparedforresistance

44. Tip 2: Learnfromfailure “Ifyou are notfailingnow and again, it’s a signthatyou’renotdoinganythingveryinnovative” (Woody Allen)

45. Tip 3: Builduponsmallsuccesses

46. Tip 3: Seek support & createalliances

47. Tip 4: Media literacy is team work

48. Tip 5: Focus

49. references Public libraries and media literacy

50. References Frank Huysmans, CarlienHillebrink The future of the Dutch public library: ten years on (2008): http://www.scp.nl/content.jsp?objectid=default:19315 Library of Vlissingen blog: http://biebblog.openia.com/ Library of Vlissingen website: http://www.vlissingen.nl/Bibliotheek-Vlissingen/Lenen-lezen.htm

51. Questions? Karolien Selhorst – Digital Library & Knowledge Manager Public Library of Vlissingen karosel64@gmail.com www.karolienselhorst.be http://twitter.com/kselhorst