Month: November 2024

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     Growing up in today’s technologically advanced era has its challenges and benefits. We are now at a time in human history where increasingly advanced technology is becoming a part of everyday human life. In being a forward-thinking profession, librarians must be one step ahead, or at least keep pace with today’s technological advances. Besides thinking ahead, information professionals can help educate their communities by offering services such as related programs, one-on-one assistance with devices, programs, and apps, and the ability to find reliable information to educate the public on this subject.

In “Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant”, Samantha Murray Kelley talks about the increased use of technology in a young person’s life and explores how it influences their development. The example that she uses is explaining how one of their first words might be “Alexa” (or other branded device) because it is used in the parents’ home. She says it would be similar to using the word, “mama”, and that more studies need to be done to learn the influence of daily technology in the environment to children (Murray Kelley, 2018).

Above all, Murray Kelley recommends limiting children to the amount of time spent with technology. She also recommends that parents and caregivers use it more as a tool, instead of a replacement for human and social interactions (Murray Kelley, 2018). Information professionals can also assist in providing knowledge and sources, on facts and data, relating to children and how to navigate the technological world with them.

Reference

Kelly, S. (2018). Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant

It is difficult not to get a little teary eyed when watching a video of children, who are sensory sensitive, build a relationship with santa clause in the perfect environment of a library. What was most touching in a video, located within a video called The Power of Stories, was the level of engagement that grew as the kids became more comfortable with a new person, in a quieter environment which was more supportive. Parents, santa, and library staff provided the tools and environment for these young people and were very patient with any hesitancy on the part of the children. Without the support of the library staff, these familes would not have been able to successfully attend a Christmastime event, which is so foundational to childhood.

Libraries can also be louder, more collaborative spaces and, in combination with the aforementioned video, they demonstrate the importance of having more dynamic spaces, within a library buiding, at the same time. The trouble lies in hosting sometimes multiple, varied activity and noise leveled spaces, all under the same roof. For example, besides sensory kits, a noise sensitive (or louder) space may have better sound proofing in the walls. Libraries offering dynamic spaces inside their buildings both show a great consideration for their communites, and all around more thriving lives for those who visit.

 

Reference

Library 2.0. (2020, March 11). The Power of stories [Youtube video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZlTRTVX10&t=1578s