LMF Reflections: April 2018

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Topic #4 Libraries and The Student Success

In this increasingly technology based global world we live in, students are also aware of the fact that they need gadgets that immediately access the internet in order to succeed. There was a time when no one had access to the internet. Originally it was only supposed to be limited to medical researchers. (Anderson, 1993) I found an article titled “The rocky road to the data highway” in a database called Opposing Viewpoints. While this article may not seem to have any bearing on the topic being discussed, it will provide some background of what is going on in the present.

Even I didn’t know what that concept was until I reached college in 1998. Until then, I still searched the library the old-fashioned way, I went there and looked through the stacks if I had the author and title name. I had no way of knowing how to look through the catalog online until much later. I was very backwards and behind the times. To this day, I’m still struggling to learn how to use basic technology. If anything, I’m burned out on all the types of gadgets and media that is available out there. Will that stop me from completing my work as an ongoing college student? No, it will not. I’m one of those individuals that fortunately has a laptop and can utilize Wi-Fi just about everywhere I go. When I cannot, I take that time to read and rest my eyes.

Unfortunately, well known in this world is the fact that nothing ever comes free. (Huffman, 2018) I found another interesting article, “THE DIGITAL DIVIDE REVISITED: WHAT IS NEXT?” written by Stephanie Huffman, and it explained an educational initiative that was started by President Clinton and continued later by President Obama. It is now under fire by the current administration.

However, in our world are libraries, school libraries and public libraries and they are fighting to maintain neutrality against unbelievable odds and ensure that students are able to receive the assistance they need, no matter how limited it may be. Often, they are the only locations where students that have no technology available to them either at home or school, can go in order to complete their assignments when not at school.

What I’ve learned, through personal experience, and through research is that there’ll always be ways of succeeding as students. One just has to find ways to make use of available technology and know where to find it. Don’t give up and ask at the local library where resources can be found and how long they’re available for use in a given time frame.

References used for all four articles can be found below.

ACADEMIC SEARCH COMPLETE DATABASE

References

Senville, W. (2009). PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE HUB OF OUR COMMUNITIES. Aplis, 22(3), 97-103.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44266947&site=ehost-live&scope=site

References

Goodman, J. (2015). Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 217-223. doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041218

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=108394500&site=ehost-live&scope=site

References

Hinze, S. (2016). Librarians as Community Ambassadors. Young Adult Library Services, 15(1), 27-30.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site

ERIC DATABASE

References

Starr, J. (2010). California Digital Library in Twitter-Land. Computers In Libraries, 30(7), 23-27.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ896823&site=ehost-live&scope=site

References

Bowering, E. R., Mills, J., & Merritt, A. (2017). Learning How to Learn: A Student Success Course for at Risk Students. Canadian Journal For The Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning, 8(3),

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1162951&site=ehost-live&scope=site

References

Weaver, M. (2013). Student Journey Work: A Review of Academic Library Contributions to Student Transition and Success. New Review Of Academic Librarianship, 19(2), 101-124.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1089267&site=ehost-live&scope=site

OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS DATABASE

Simplicio, J. S. C. (2002). The technology Hub: a cost effective and educationally sound method for the integration of technology into schools. Education, 122(4), 674+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A90188940/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=b06d03a2

Huffman, S. (2018). THE DIGITAL DIVIDE REVISITED: WHAT IS NEXT? Education, 138(3), 239+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A531709941/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=2dbdba33

Anderson, C. (1993). The rocky road to a data highway. Science, 260(5111), 1064+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A15031639/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=8546cca2

Smith, W. R. (1994). Don't stand so close to me: judges are giving neighborhoods a bum rap. Policy Review, (70), 48+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A15803045/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=9ee2aa00

Topic #3 Libraries and the Homeless

There has always been a homeless population across the cities of the United States and globally. Nonetheless, reactions are always mixed when the topic is brought up in different areas. Some cities and their citizens want nothing to do with the homeless, much less having them in their libraries. (Smith, 1994) As I discovered in some older articles from the Opposing Viewpoints database, the attitudes were pretty vicious and nasty back then. A backlash against cities broke out for a very long time, spanning twenty years or more. (Smith, 1994)

Gradually though libraries that coordinated with health services began providing services that would help the homeless find jobs and other resources that would lead to hopefully better living conditions. (Lilienthal, 2011) There are many models created by various public libraries, San Francisco for example, that have former homeless folks working as employees that created an outreach program. (Lilienthal, 2011)

There are so many factors that lead to homelessness and it isn’t just the typical eccentrics people see on the roads who’re sometimes mumbling to themselves. (Smith, 1994) there are also the families in low-income housing that often use the library extensively because they have no other choice as to where they can gain use of technology and materials to work with. (Lilienthal, 2011)

One of the most important things I’ve gained from finding articles on this topic, is that there are so many ways of reaching out to this population. First, if they ask for information about services, don’t brush them off rudely, there are better ways of handling situations. See if they’d be willing to go into the library and talk to a librarian if you’re not one. If you know someone who has information and not in the library, direct them to that person and start something positive for them. Second, if it seems that someone is causing problems, report the situation to the librarians and don’t try to intervene doing so might escalate the tension and make things worse. Third, keep in mind that there are always complex reasons behind homelessness and even when some individuals can be rude, aggressive, and obnoxious, the majority of them are actually no different than anyone else and are trying to make their lives better.

In conclusion, when it comes to homeless being in the library just keep in mind that they’re people just like the rest of us. Most of them have serious problems behind their actions and words so try being tolerant. If it seems that a serious situation might arise, don’t personally intervene, just go to the nearest librarian and report what is going on. Overall, leave them alone because they’re doing the best that they can.

References

Lilienthal, S. M. (2011). THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE HOMELESS. Library

Topic #2 Social Networking and Libraries

The phrase, social networking and libraries is something that only became linked recently. In an effort to get word out for programs within libraries that were offered but no one knew about, the staff had to learn about new technology and become sufficiently trained as to how to use it properly without causing problems for the site as a whole.

One of the first social networking sites was Twitter and still is. For example, California Digital Library began using Twitter to spread word about their programs. J. Starr, writing about an experience in working on a small committee, made an article called “California Digital library in Twitter-land” that detailed some of the process that she went through as one of the staff monitoring the twitter account. Did it go smoothly? Not at first, mostly because they had to ensure that they knew what they were dealing with. Eventually, everything did start rolling smoothly because they created an action plan beforehand as to what they would do from start to finish in order to create some impact with their work.

Facebook is another way of spreading the word, but again, staff needs training and a reliable member needs to be chosen for the task. After all, what goes out on the account for the libraries will reflect on the building as a whole, not just the individual posting the information.

There are ethics that need consideration as well. So knowing what to do and not to do is important. Guidelines are necessary as a way to create boundaries for staff and others who may access it at any time to post information about programs, special hours due to holidays and alerting patrons as to how they can find more information on the website as well.

References

Starr, J. (2010). California Digital Library in Twitter-Land. Computers In Libraries, 30(7), 23-27.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ896823&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Topic #1 Libraries as Social Hubs

When I saw this topic as something to discuss about in a blog post, it occurred to me that I hadn’t thought about how important libraries were to the community and various groups of people. In truth for as long as I can remember, I’ve always found the library haven when I wanted to find books or other materials that I didn’t have at home or in a bookstore.

Here is a quote worth thinking about from one of the articles I discovered through Academic Search Complete in the Palomar Community College library database. It is one of five I searched in my quest for more interesting information on this topic.

“There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” Andrew Carnegie (Senville, 2009)

Libraries have evolved from simply being brick and mortar buildings that housed collections of books, magazines, and other easily obtainable resources. They’ve become a place where people of all ages gather to discuss books they have a common interest in, they join group programs that range from knitting to yoga to movie screenings (depending on which club is using what community room.) The big rooms are rented out for a fee for merchants to display items they wish to promote and give people opportunities how to maximize their lifestyles or make healthy changes in addition to what they’re doing.

Sometimes concerts are held and people can gather to listen to live music. There are many reasons why the library has become a social hub. It is often the key location for people to gain access to technology that is the only place to come for it. The needs ranging from career search or simply to browse are many (Senville, 2009) and therefore, some people are finding ways to incorporate libraries into downtown infrastructure so that they’re attracting traffic from shopping areas as well. (Goodman, J. 2015)

References

Senville, W. (2009). PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE HUB OF OUR COMMUNITIES. Aplis, 22(3), 97-103.

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44266947&site=ehost-live&scope=site

References

Goodman, J. (2015). Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 217-223. doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041218

https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=108394500&site=ehost-live&scope=site

First Bog Post In Some Time

I initially created this particular blog so that I could post about my college classes and some of the material that I would be learning. Due to personal circumstances, I was not able to confidently write about anything in the past two years. Now, however, I feel I can do so once more. In the next series of posts, I'll be writing about four topics that have to do with my degree program, Library Information Science and Technology.

Later, I'll post links to my e-Portfolio in case anyone is interested in finding out more about the program at Palomar College, San Marcos Campus.

Have a nice evening!