We are passing on request from a library person from a listserve, along with a few suggestions from other people. Do you have this issue? Do you have other ideas? Suggest them in the comments!
“Does anyone have suggestions on what to do with audio books on cd, music cds, dvds, etc. that are coming in for our book sale that we are not selling? Our book sale staff hates to throw them out and would like to give them away if someone could use them.”
(From The Edvocate, by Matthew Lynch)
“With the expansion of digital media, the rise of e-books and massive budget cuts, the end of libraries has been predicted many times over.
And while it is true that library budgets have been slashed, causing cuts in operating hours and branch closures, libraries are not exactly dying. In fact, libraries are evolving.
As a researcher of youth learning in out-of-school spaces, I have studied the online information habits of youth. I am currently studying how librarians are supporting teen learning and teaching coding to novice learners.
So, how are libraries changing and what is their future?
Traditionally, libraries provided no-cost access to books and a quiet place to read.
But many of today’s public libraries are taking on newer roles. They are offering programs in technology, career and college readiness and also in innovation and entrepreneurship – all 21st-century skills, essential for success in today’s economy.
Look at some of the examples of this change happening across the nation.
In 2014, the San Diego Public Library Central Library opened the IDEA Lab, where students can explore and learn new technology with the support of their peers.
The lab hires teen interns to run workshops on a variety of topics of their interests. These range from Photoshop to stop-motion animation and skill-building technology projects.
These interns, coming from schools with predominantly African-American and Latino students, also get to work with a librarian to plan activities that give them experience related to their career goals.
Similarly, in early 2015, librarians at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina created a “maker space” called Idea Box, a place where area youth are invited to learn to 3D model, 3D print, knit and code. This creates learning opportunities for the youth and develops their interests in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) careers.
In another such example, the Seattle Public Library started a partnership in 2014 with the Seattle Youth Employment Program. Together, they have designed curriculum to build digital and information literacy skills.
Alongside individual libraries, national organizations such as YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), who strengthen library services for teens, are already making changes to what they view as the purview of the library professional. Their recent report focuses on changing the role of library staff to support young people as they explore and develop career paths.”
(Read the rest of this article here!)
A library person was asking for information on activities her anime/manga group might do. There were several suggestions, and I am passing them on here, because several of you have these groups or have talked about starting them. This can be a great way to connect to young adults in your community!
Have you done other good things in your library? Share them in the comments!
