Tag: Global Lens

Inspiration Report: Digital Care Work: Exploring Trends from Europe

Digital Care Work has become an unforgettable foundation to my studies this semester as a library professional most interested in technological aspects of librarianship. Methods to decrease barriers to access fascinate me and I recognize that this is a trend that has continued throughout my time at SJSU. In previous courses I’ve explored these themes through learning to teach information literacy, fostering community for niche social groups, inclusive cataloging, ease of use through information architecture, and more. I aspire to continue exploring Digital Care Work through other lenses and hope you find value in it as well.

 

Reflection Blog #5: Infinite Learning for Library Folk

My personal journey as a library professional has been steeped in infinite learning through informal engagement but also frequent professional learning experiences (PLEs). I realized quite early on that I would have to be a sponge and allow myself to be open to all potential learning opportunities if I were to be a facilitator of the best possible experiences for my patrons. Every single day has been a chance to learn from my colleagues and patrons alike. As library professionals we are not merely serving as liaisons to information, but builders of a structure of interconnectedness that invites everyone to learn and collaborate (Stephens, 2016).

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Reflection Blog #1: Libraries as Digital Community Hubs

As I work through this course I am continually drawn to the concept of librarians as Digital Care Workers who help their communities dissolve the barriers of accessibility and close the digital divide. I have had several interactions as a library paraprofessional which exposed the reality that this divide still exists in present day and it is not limited to age groups despite the notion that Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha are digital natives (Gun, 2023). A couple of years ago I had an interaction with a shy eighteen-year-old patron who worked up the courage to ask me how to use email—from step one of creating an email address—because they never had a computer at home. I have had many similar interactions over the years which have revealed that being skillful with a cellphone did not mean those same skills were always transferable to a computer interface.

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