The Little Free Library (LFL) movement has quickly caught on across the US. The dollhouse-sized miniature libraries are found on front lawns, parks, and public squares coast to coast. LFLs house books and magazines for community members. Circulation is free and runs on an honor system. The motto: “Take a book. Return a book.” As @michael pointed out in this Module 5 article, LFLs support literacy, stewardship, and community. They’re also examples of low-tech, high value localized collections that offer community enrichment and connection in public space. LFLs are a manifestation of community participation, action, and improvement. Who could object? […]
Contributors Michael Stephens
4147 posts
Greetings all! We’re starting a new series of guest posts here at TTW. I’m calling them “Listening to Student Voices.” There is so much wonderful blogging that goes in within courses I teach and beyond, I want to make sure some of those voices get out farther than the students and professor. Watch for the first post soon!
Folks – Don’t miss this new blog by Carnegie Mellon University Dean of Libraries Keith Webster: http://www.libraryofthefuture.org Keith is one of the academic library leaders I look to for insights and ideas related to higher ed and library service. Look for his articles and presentations – you won’t be disappointed. For example: The changing landscape of scholarly communication: presentation to the NFAIS 2015 annual conference from Keith Webster From his introductory post: If the librarian’s profession is increasingly to be conducted outside the library, then what of the building itself? We know that our libraries are busier than ever, but […]
Project Information Literacy (PIL) has just shared the Information Literacy’s latest “Smart Talk” interview with Craig Watkins a leading thinker on social media, connected learning and youth. In the interview, Craig says: “While schools do not always suffer from a lack of technology, they consistently suffer from a lack of vision in how the technology will be used. In high-poverty schools, technology is rarely used to promote the development of higher-order thinking skills, such as design, problem-solving, or coding. Schools must invest in highly-skilled instructors and curricula that cultivate the skills associated with innovation. This is not necessarily a technological […]
Thanks to the Alaska Library Association for the invitation and warm welcome to Juneau last week. I was honored to keynote the conference and spend time with the incredibly dedicated Alaskan librarians. I was also able to break away for the afternoon and hike around the Mendenhall Glacier. It was stunning! Download the Slides
On encouraging the heart…. This is important as we move into a more emotionally rich, experience-based world. Our networks enable us to extend the heart across cyberspace. User-centered planning, engaging and exciting creativity-focused spaces, and opportunities to follow one’s curiosity wherever it may lead are all part of the heart of libraries. The library should encourage the heart. The Hyperlinked Library word cloud by Fall 2014 #hyperlib student Sandy Chauvin.
I am back from three great days in Toronto. Thanks to all at the Ontario Library Conference for such a wonderful conference experience. It was nice to see friends and colleagues and talk with the librarians from all over Ontario. My slides are from the two presentations are here: January 29: Hyperlinked Learning Experiences at Libraries: MOOCs & Beyond: Download the Slides January 30: MOOCs for Librarians: Key Takeaways from Two Large Scale Professional Development Courses: Download the Slides
Dynamic disruption: transforming the library Submissions deadline 15 April 2015 Val Skelton Programme Director Katherine Allen Conference Director Information Today invites you to submit your presentation ideas for this year’s Internet Librarian International (ILI) – the fast-growing innovation and technology conference that attracts hundreds of global library and information professionals each year. We are seeking innovative case studies and discussions on the ideas, strategies and practical implementations that are helping you make a difference to your organisations, clients and communities. ILI is all about the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience and this year we will also be exploring the ‘big questions’ […]
January 29: Hyperlinked Learning Experiences at Libraries: MOOCs & Beyond. Ontario Library Association, Toronto, Ontario. January 30: MOOCs for Librarians: Key Takeaways from Two Large Scale Professional Development Courses, Ontario Library Association, Toronto, Ontario. February 27, 2015: Keynote – Learning Everywhere: Transformative Power of Hyperlinked Libraries, Alaska Library Association Conference, Juneau, Alaska.
Don’t miss this new venture from Ellyssa Kroski and a great group of writers. It’s a great way to explore some of the ways libraries are reaching out to fan communities of all kinds. http://ccgclibraries.com Welcome to Cosplay, Comics, and Geek Culture in Libraries! This is an exciting time for geeks of all kinds to be involved with libraries as today’s savvy libraries have begun to embrace new ways to engage library patrons such as fandom events, comic book and graphic novel collections, comic cons, cosplay events, and more. The intersection of these interests with libraries is a perfect match […]