LibGuides: Library & Information Science: DVD, Websites, etc.

Crash Course: Navigating Digital Information

Navigating Digital Information The internet has become an integral part of contemporary life in many parts of the world, and with this technology has come access to information often in overwhelming amounts and of dubious quality. How can you sort out fact from fiction online and avoid (or correct) bad internet habits? Navigating Digital Information, a new Crash Course video series hosted by John Green offers viewers practical strategies for these and other digital literacy topics. In ten engaging episodes, each approximately fifteen minutes long, this series teaches valuable skills and techniques for evaluating online information in a way that helps viewers become more critically conscious of the digital material they consume. All who use the internet could likely benefit from this course because, as Green notes in the series preview, "Everyone is susceptible to being misled online, and anyone who believes themselves to be somehow immune to misinformation is, in fact, especially susceptible to it." This series will be of value to educators, students, and the general public alike. Launched in March 2019, Navigating Digital Information was produced as part of the MediaWise initiative, a project of the Poynter Institute, in partnership with the Stanford History Education Group with funding from Google.

DVD

Challenges of the Future by Idaho Library Futures Conference (2006 : Eagle, Ada County, Idaho). On July 11-13, 2006, Idaho librarians attended a conference held in Eagle, Idaho on the future of libraries. The focus was dealing with and serving "digital natives", those people who have grown up in the age of technology. The videos include two presentations and two panel forums from the conference.
Call Number: DVD Z721.I33 2006 PT.1-4
Publication Date: 2006

Research Reports from the Pew Research Center

Research Reports from OCLC

Idaho Libraries

Idaho Library Laws (2021 Edition)

Blogs & Podcasts

ALSC Blog The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, children’s literature experts, publishers, education and library school faculty members, and other adults committed to improving and ensuring the future of the nation through exemplary library service to children, their families, and others who work with children.
The Atlas of New Librarianship Online What is the goal of a library? What is the work of a librarian? Perhaps, "a new librarianship" has emerged, an expanded role "based not on books and artifacts but on knowledge and learning." To facilitate this, librarians must embrace an expanded role, too: "to improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities." R. David Lankes, an award-winning scholar and director of the University of South Carolina's School of Information Science, makes these claims in The Atlas of New Librarianship, a book he published in 2011. The next year, the book won the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature. Now freely available under a Creative Commons License, readers can download the book as a PDF or ePub file. Its in-depth insights encapsulate "input from hundreds of librarians and professors from 14 accredited library programs, 25 formal presentations to more than 50 conferences, and 14 publications." And, since its initial publication, the Atlas added new indexes (highlighted in the Expanding the Atlas section).
Bloggers!: The Blog of SAA'S Electronic Records Section The blog of the Electronic Records Section (ERS–get it??) of the Society of American Archivists was founded to foster communication and collaboration within the ERS and across the wider archival community. On this site you may find a variety of different types of posts, including: Aggregations of news, information, and resources on electronic records issues New content including case studies, interviews, surveys, reviews, and other writings of interest to archivists and electronic records professionals Forums for discussion and collaboration, to help archivists communicate and learn from each other and those outside the field.
Circulating Ideas: The Library Interview Podcast For librarians of all stripes, Circulating Ideas is a regular podcast that, "facilitates conversations about the innovative people & ideas allowing libraries to thrive in the 21st century." This podcast is hosted by public librarian Steve Thomas, is supported by the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science, and features interviews with library professionals across the United States. Each episode is approximately 45 minutes in length, and new episodes are released one to three times per month. Recent episodes include a conversation with Bonnie Tijerina of the Data & Society Institute about patron and data privacy; a conversation with Dr. Nathan Carpenter of the Illinois State University's School of Communication about social media literacy; and an interview with Jeffrey Davis, the branch manager of the San Diego Public Library and author of The Collection All Around: Sharing Our Cities, Towns, and Natural Places. All podcast episodes are accompanied by show notes, which include related resources that may be of interest.
Duke University Libraries: Bitstreams Librarians, historians, and researchers may really enjoy reading Bitstreams, the blog of the Duke University Libraries' Special Collections. Bitstreams posts are typically done by library staff with occasional posts done by Molly Bragg, Head of Digital Collections and Curation Services. Blog posts may include new acquisitions in collections at the library, special projects, or new features available within the library system. A recent post by Bragg includes highlights from new collections debuted in spring 2019, such as the Hayti-Elizabeth Street renewal era, which "document[s] Durham's Hayti-Elizabeth Street neighborhood infrastructure prior to the construction of the Durham Freeway, as well as the justifications for the redevelopment of the area." Another post, by Karen Newbery, details the libraries' new integrated library system named FOLIO (Future of Libraries is Open) and some of the many features that will help the libraries run more smoothly. Interested readers can check back frequently for updates or subscribe via RSS feed and email updates, which is an option available in the top left-hand corner of the blog
Jenny Arch: Look Out Honey, Because I'm Using Technology "Look Out Honey, 'Cause I'm Using Technology," is a line in a 1973 song by Iggy Pop and the Stooges. It's also the title of a delightful blog by Jenny Arch, a public librarian who has worked in both adult services and youth services. Arch's blog will appeal to two audiences. First, fellow librarians will enjoy her thoughtful reflections about her work, which includes a recent post about providing services for patrons with low vision or hearing loss and another recent post about what customer service means in a library setting. Second, book lovers (along with parents and teachers of young book lovers) will also enjoy this blog, which is full of thematic book recommendations and short reviews. For instance, Arch recently posted about her favorite books read in 2017, dividing her list into children's/teen books, adult fiction, and adult nonfiction. Arch also recently posted a series of quotes from books that she read in 2017, offering readers a unique way to learn about new books. Other topics addressed in this blog include early childhood literacy and the art of creating a good library display.
Justin the Librarian Justin the Librarian is Justin Hoenke, a rural public librarian who is dedicated to ensuring that residents in communities of all sizes have access to quality library services. On his blog, visitors will find a number of insights, reflections, and tips that may appeal to all public librarians. In one recent post, Hoenke discusses his library's decision to add Nintendo Switch Games to their collection. As he notes, "circulating video game collections will never be your biggest circulating collection, but they will cater to a specific audience that appreciates there being video games available to borrow at their local public library." In another recent post, "Relevant at Any Size: You Just Have to Do It," Hoenke reflects on the unique challenges faced by small rural public libraries and how he and his coworkers meet those challenges.
Preservation Underground Preservation Underground is the official blog of the Duke University Libraries Preservation & Conservation Departments. For readers in the libraries and archives world, the blog includes information about new job openings, internships, and conferences that may be of interest. The blog also highlights unique items in the libraries' collection. For instance, one recent blog post features a number of striking illustrations and graphics from the 1946 children's book Egg to Chick. Another recent blog post displays a Civil War era hat that was, unconventionally, uncovered in a manuscript box. Visitors may browse previous blog posts by category, including exhibits, quick pics, and technology.
School Library Journal: The Yarn: The Inside Story of Children's Books Librarians, teachers, and those interested in hearing behind-the-scenes stories about creating and publishing kids' books may enjoy The Yarn, a podcast from School Library Journal that focuses on children's literature. First launched in August 2015, The Yarn is hosted and produced by elementary school librarian Travis Jonker and third grade teacher Colby Sharp. Here, listeners will find a collection of fascinating interviews with authors and illustrators of children's books, all conducted in person, with some episodes recorded in front of a live audience. Examples of The Yarn's interviewees include Kazu Kibuishi, creator of the popular Amulet graphic novel series; Abby Hanlon, author and illustrator of the Dory Fhantasmagory series; and Jess Keating, author of the World of Weird Animals series. As a special treat to celebrate their 100th episode (released in September 2019), Colby and Travis discuss how The Yarn has evolved over time, their interview and podcast process, and their "favorite, not-so-favorite, and funniest moments from the show." Those interested can listen to The Yarn online or subscribe through Stitcher, Spotify, and other platforms.
Teen Librarian The Teen Librarian is a personal blog run by Matt Imrie, who is currently a school librarian but has "spent a number of years as a Children's, Teen, and Youth Services Librarian in South Africa and the United Kingdom." The blog, which is UK-based, focuses on issues relating to working with teens in a library setting, in addition to book reviews about books for young adults (YA) in the horror, crime, fantasy, and graphic novel genres. Many blog posts are authored by librarian Caroline Felding; the latest blog post (as of this writing) is entitled, " The Third Degree with Justin A. Reynolds," featuring an interview with the author of the book Opposite of Always. Other recent posts include reviews of the books Joe Quinn's Poltergeist and High Rise Mystery. In her review of High Rise Mystery, Felding said, "It isn't only brilliant because it is the first black British children's detective series for [ages] 9-12, it is brilliant because it is one of the best children's detective mysteries I have ever read!" The Teen Librarian also has a section dedicated to published articles written by Imrie and a separate monthly archive, which is available via a linked Wordpress site.
This American Life: The Room of Requirement Public libraries offer their patrons a great deal more than their (already impressive) never-ending supply of books. This excellent episode from the acclaimed radio show and podcast This American Life explores how libraries are "often spaces that transform into what you need them to be: a classroom, a cyber cafe, a place to find answers, a quiet spot to be alone." Here, listeners will find three fascinating segments sharing stories of a library located right on the border between the US and Canada, a library whose collection solely comprises unpublished manuscripts deposited by their authors (inspired by the library in Richard Brautigan's novel The Abortion), and a library that, for six months straight, was a vital haven for a little girl who revisited as an adult. A full transcript of the audio is available, though the podcast notes that the episode "is produced for the ear and designed to be heard." A public radio fixture since 1995, This American Life is produced by WBEZ Chicago. In addition to listening on the radio or this website, those interested in subscribing may do so via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or This American Life's apps, available for iOS and Android.

Other Websites

Awful Library Books Created by Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner, two public librarians in Michigan, the Awful Library Books website exists in part to showcase books that have been weeded, or removed, from library collections. That is, titles that at one time seemed like a good acquisition, but have become outdated or are no longer relevant. Some examples of this type of title currently on view include "Antiques for Men," 1974; "Mentally Defective Children," 1914; "Law Enforcement Employment Guide," 1989; and "Those Amazing Leeches," 1988. The site also provides resources on the art and science of weeding and collection development for librarians and others, under the Practical Librarian tab. For anyone looking to suggest awful books to be added to this site, complete instructions can be found under the Submissions tab.
Career Development Resources Compiled by the American Library Association (ALA), these Career Development Resources offer various templates and tips to "help you prepare for a productive and effective job search as well as enhance your career development efforts." Last updated in July 2020, these valuable materials are categorized by topic (for example, "Cover Letters" and "Networking"), with each broad category containing several specific tools. For example, the Interviewing section houses sets of sample questions, while the Resumes section offers visitors a collection of design and format guides. Additionally, at the top of the Career Development Resources page readers can download a printable version of the ALA's "Career Development Resource Guide," with more than 50 pages of insights on everything from professional etiquette to negotiating salaries. The guide also contains a useful "Evaluating Yourself" template that invites users to take inventory of their skills and interests and consider compatible career paths.
Library Planet For library lovers around the globe, Library Planet is a new project that seeks to offer "a crowdsourced Lonely Planet for Libraries" and to "inspire library travelers." Library Planet was founded by two Danish librarians, Christian Lauersen and Marie Engberg Eiriksson, and welcomes writing contributions from anyone. As of this write-up, the project features libraries in Denmark, China, the Netherlands, Portugal, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Visitors can explore these featured libraries on the site's homepage or via the Map of libraries tab. Each featured library is accompanied by a short write-up and numerous photographs. One featured library is the Shanghai Library, which is home to a number of ancient manuscripts as well as a state-of-the-art "Innovation Space." Also featured is the National Centre for the Written Word, a library in northeast England that aims to "transform a visitor's perception of what a library can be." Here, visitors will find storytelling and performances spaces, as well as multi-media labs and a gaming zone.
Metadata Games The digital catalog of any library, archive, or museum relies on metadata (data about data) to enable searchers to get the most relevant results. As more institutions digitize their collections, a vast amount of metadata needs to be generated. But can metadata generation actually be fun? That's the premise behind Metadata Games, an "open source crowdsourcing game platform" that offers a collection of free web-based and mobile app games to create user-generated tags that "help libraries, museums, and universities across the country." The games on offer include such entertaining gems as Zen Tag, a meditative single-player activity; Guess What!, a fast-paced guessing game where players work with a random online partner to identify images; and Stupid Robot, where players teach a robot who "looks at everything but understands nothing" about images. These and others offer fun opportunities to take a quick break and help out a library or museum at the same time. As of this write-up, Metadata Games contains more than 45 collections from 11 different institutions for gamers to play with and tag. Metadata Games is directed by Professor of Digital Humanities Mary Flanagan and Archivist Peter Carini, both at Dartmouth College. Its collaborating institutions include the British Library, the Boston Public Library, and the Digital Public Library of America.
Programming Librarian Programming Librarian, a website of the American Library Association's (ALA) Public Programs Office, "provides [libraries] the resources, connections, and opportunities needed to fill their role as centers of cultural and civic life." This site may be run by the ALA, but programming ideas from around the world are shared for all to research or incorporate. Any librarian, archivist, or information professional who creates programming or does outreach can find a wide array of ideas in this collection. Visitors to the site can browse ideas by budget (starting from free) and by institution type (academic, public, school, etc.) via the browse ideas tab on the homepage. Additionally, programming for popular topics involving themes or celebrations, such as Black History Month, and audience level are also available to browse. For example, if wanting to plan a program that targets people experiencing homelessness, visitors can read about a program entitled, "Swap it Like it's Hot," a clothing exchange event for adults at the Central City Library in Auckland, New Zealand. In addition to programming ideas, the Programming Librarian has a section of its site dedicated to news and a blog, the latter of which features contributions from guest librarians writing about topics involving successful programming endeavors at their home institutions.
Public Libraries and the Pandemic: Digital Shifts and Disparities to Overcome In the fall and winter of 2020, New America embarked on a snapshot study to gather data on how—or if—people were discovering, accessing, and using their public libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on materials that libraries made available online. Our findings, which include data from a national survey of 2,620 people, highlight the need for more inclusivity, more focus on providing internet access, and more awareness-raising initiatives with local organizations and schools. The stories in this report—of libraries developing mobile Wi-Fi options, creating digital navigator programs to support digital literacy, launching more online programs, and making use of outdoor spaces—show the possibilities of transformation and partnership. The report concludes with eight recommendations for investment in library transformations, expansion of policies such as E-Rate and the Emergency Broadband Benefit to provide better internet access at home, and more collaboration with local schools and organizations. With these changes, libraries can leverage the lessons of the pandemic to help launch more equitable ecosystems of learning across communities, providing access to knowledge, resources, and training, online and off.
Public Libraries in the United States Survey
Public Library Policy Collection Public librarians may find the Colorado Library Consortium's (CLC) Public Library Policy Collection of interest, particularly for those who are revising current policies. The goal of the collection is to "provide small, rural libraries with easy access to a clearinghouse of policies," and are collected from libraries from around the United States. Available policies range from community room usage, emergency closings, requests for public records, animals in the library, and much more. Visitors can conduct a keyword search or browse a variety of categories (e.g. policy type, policy name, or date added, to name a few). Policies can be downloaded as an Excel file, pdf, or can be directly printed from the site. Public library policies are submitted by completing a web form on the CLC site. This collection is an extremely useful resource for libraries that are writing new policies or revising existing ones, and would also serve as a good learning opportunity for students in the field of library and information studies.
State of America's Libraries Report 2019
State of America's Libraries Report 2018 The American Library Association (ALA) recently released its annual State of America's Libraries Report, which summarizes major trends in public, academic, and school libraries. This report highlights three national trends that are predicted to impact the future of libraries: an aging population, growing income inequality, and the growth of "connected learning," or, educational opportunities in digital and social media. As the report notes, these last two trends are intertwined: "In order for connected learning to help level the playing field between the haves and have-nots, students must have regular access to new and emerging technologies and the internet." The report also includes the ALA's annual list of the most frequently challenged books in the past year. The brief report includes a very helpful reference section for readers interested in further reading.
Public Library Policy Collection Established to provide small, rural libraries with EASY access to a clearinghouse of policies...

Library Science Education

Careers in Librarianship
Directory of ALA-Accredited and Candidate Programs in Library and Information Studies
Guidelines for Choosing a Master's Program in Library and Information Studies
Library Carpentry: Software and Data Skills for People Working in Library- and Information-Related Roles Archivists, librarians, and information professions all over the world may be interested in the lessons and classes, both online and in-person, offered by Library Carpentry. Originally developed by The Carpentries, which focuses on teaching data and coding skills to researchers, Library Carpentry is a "global community teaching software and data skills to people working in library and information-related roles." Lessons from Library Carpentry include teaching information professionals how to develop and utilize best practices in data structures, how to understand jargon and phrases often used in computer science and software development, and how to effectively work with colleagues in information technology, among others. Workshops are held at institutions and libraries all over the globe, and upcoming ones can be found under the Our workshops tab. Online lessons can be found under Our lessons and are also available on the Library Carpentry's Github page. Library Carpentry encourages participation from the information science community; people can apply to be a teacher with the organization, in addition to volunteering to help with a workshop or hosting one at your institution. Those who are interested in contributing to existing lessons can actually do so via their Github page, and those who want to stay abreast of happenings within the Library Carpentry community may want to check out their active blog, Gitter page, Twitter site, or their discussion page on TopicBox.
LITA Blog The American Library Association's Library Information Technology Association (LITA) offers this helpful blog for library professionals who want to stay abreast of developments in library technology. In addition, the blog provides updates about conferences, webinars, and other LITA events. The blog is authored by a number of librarians, including those who work in academic, public, and corporate libraries. The LITA blog also welcomes guest posts from librarians. One recent blog post updated readers about a LITA webinar series regarding privacy in libraries. In another blog post, librarian Mark Beatty explains how he came to be a Jeopardy! contestant. This post includes a link to a delightful American Libraries article that features interviews with librarians who have appeared on the game show. The LITA blog also posts regular updates about job opportunities in information technology.
What Do Librarians Do? From the iSchool at Syracuse University. This resource includes information on the education requirements needed to become a librarian, job descriptions of a librarian, and a description of needed skills along with other important qualities that a librarian should have.

Associations & Other Organizations

ALA Code of Ethics

ALA Code of Ethics

Library Bill of Rights

Library Bill of Rights (ALA)

Freedom to Read Statement

The Freedom to Read Statement (ALA)

Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

Text of the Act
See sections 1701-1721, 1731
US Supreme Court Decision, 2003
Resources from the ALA
Children and the Internet: Policies that Work (ALSC - Association for Library Service to Children)

Intellectual Freedom

Office of Intellectual Freedom (ALA)
Intellectual Freedom
from American Library Association
Banned Books

Library & Information Science: DVD, Websites, etc.

DVD, Websites, Streaming video

Crash Course: Navigating Digital Information

DVD

Research Reports from the Pew Research Center

Research Reports from OCLC

Idaho Libraries

Blogs & Podcasts

Archives

Other Websites

Library Science Education

Associations & Other Organizations

ALA Code of Ethics

Library Bill of Rights

Freedom to Read Statement

Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

Intellectual Freedom