For
my professional development activity on emerging Technologies I have reviewed
the Toronto Public Libraries Teen Blog hosted by typepad is simply named Teens
www.torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/teens/.
This
blog is well signposted and easily navigable from the libraries homepage. The intended audience is young adults. This is a very creative and interactive
website with regular posts on book reviews, you-tube music clips. Youth participation
is encouraged in a variety of workshops, and encouraging personal development
by joining YAG (Youth advisory group) which can build self esteem and social participation. Building social capital in our youth of today
can be facilitated by providing a place that encourages “social networks and
sociability, trust and reciprocity and a sense of belonging” (Derr & Rhodes,
2010, p.92).
This
is one of the best teen blogs that I have come across in my research. This library blog provides through digital
platform, information to support the educational, recreational, information and
cultural needs of young people in the local community. Libraries and Information Services play an
integral role in their local community by building skills, capability and
wellbeing. Agosta & Abbas (2011,p.2) contend that these digital tools can
facilitate more extensive programming and service opportunities, enhance social
development and teach cyber safety within the young user community.
This
activity was relevant to professional practice as Stephens (2007, p.1) succinctly
states the essential responsibilities of information professionals are to,
“Learn to learn, adapt to change and scan the horizon”. Personal development
has to be a priority for library information professionals, being up to date
with emerging technologies is vital in this ever changing climate. Young
People’s Librarians should be aware of social networking and social soft wares
and try to engage with our young users.
By
doing this professional development it has been a timely reminder to get
involved and keep up to date with these ever changing technologies. This teen blog has been done particularly well
it can appeal to young creative writers, readers, resources available for
troubled teens and those simply looking for work. It really is a gateway to
knowledge and culture.
Web 2.0
is essentially about community and collaborative through social software. Blogs are an online journal whereupon a piece
of work is posted and then displayed in date order (Kroski, 2008, p.25). According to Godwin & Parker (2008, p.2)
blogs have been the Web 2.0 most adopted by public libraries. The digital paradigm has seen teens
communicate to other teens through plethora of media technologies (Franzoni,
2008). This connectivity is reflected in their rates of internet access. For
example, with over 6.2 million households or 73% having broadband access, usage
patterns indicate that in 2011, 88% of 15-17 year olds using social networking (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011).
In this rapidly changing digital
environment it is important to stay relevant by gauging what is the latest
technology they are using. To illustrate, the 2010 Pew study revealed that
blogs are being used 50% less by young users since 2006 (Agosta & Abbas,
2011). Implementation of Web 2.0 technologies needs to be undertaken with
careful analysis of client demand. This can be achieved by establishing
transparent feedback mechanisms and continuous evaluation of any services and
programs implemented.
References
Australian
Bureau of Statistics.(2011).Household Use
of Information Technology No 8146.0. Canberra: Author.
Agosto, D., & Abbas, J. (2011). What do public
librarians really do with social networking? Profiles of five public libraries.
In D. Agosto & J. Abbas (Eds.), Teens, Libraries, and Social Networking :
What Librarians Need to Know. Retrieved from Ebook Library.
Godwin,
P. & Parker, J. (Eds.).(2008) Information Literacy meets Library 2.0.
London:Facet
Publishing.
Franzoni, B. (2008). Teens in the
Library: Best practice for library staff. Lecture
presented at Fraser Coast Regional Libraries, Hervey Bay, QLD.
Stephens,
M.(2007) Tame the Web : Libraries and Technology, Retrieved 15 May 2010
From:
http://tametheweb.com/2007/02/learn_adapt_scan_point.html
