Total Pageviews Gadget

I added the Total Pageviews gadget to the blog, and dragged it to the bottom of the sidebar as it is not important enough to have it at the top. I feel this is useful for the blog because as the pageviews increase, it gives more of an impression of legitimacy in that more people are looking at and potentially learning from our blog.

Translate Gadget

The Translate Gadget allows users to view the blog in different languages. This Gadget is useful and great to have for a blog, because it allows people from all over the world to understand our blog and to be able to view and read its content. It breaks down language barriers.

Blog Gadget

I added a Text gadget to the right hand side of our blog. It thanks visitors for coming to our blog and provides a link to be redirected back to the Canvas log-in page. I think this will help our bloggers easily return to the Canvas page to check due dates for class assignments, rubrics, and more! The link is in red, the same shade as the Canvas red, so it is more obvious and easy to find.

Blog Archive Gadget

I added a "Blog Archive" search gadget to our page. Posts are organized by month, and can be viewed by using the drop down bar. This is another way to peruse the blog and find certain grouping of posts easier. I tested it out and it gets a thumbs up 😊

Search This Blog Gadget

I added a "search this blog" gadget to the blog. I added this because it will be a helpful tool our followers can use to search for keywords or specific posts.  I tested the gadget to make sure it works and it does! The gadget is located at the top of the column on the right. 

Translate Gadget

I added the "translate" gadget to the lower portion of the page. I chose to add this gadget to help ensure that our blog be accessible in any language someone may prefer to read in. I have utilized this same function on many sites to translate recipes or other information and find it extremely useful.

I added the "Follow by Email" gadget. I find this feature very helpful when I would like to keep up with a blog, podcast, YouTube channel. This way, the follower will get an email notification of new content and not have to keep checking back in.

It is currently at the bottom of the page. I put it there because I thought it might get lost on the right column which is getting crowded. I welcome someone with web design sense to move it to a better location!

Featured Post Gadget

I chose to add a "Featured Post" gadget to the right side of the blog at the top of the column. Currently it is set up to display the most recent post available. I chose this feature because this can easily highlight main points of the blog and topics are are current and up to date. There may be a specific event or subject that would be desirable to highlight and this is a easy way to get that post to the readers attention before it gets lost in the myriad of blog posts. It is a great way to get the information you want to relay to the reader quickly and obviously.

Libraries and Social Media

There’s no doubt that social media is a big part of the world today. Almost everyone uses some form of social media, it only makes sense that libraries (public and academic) will jump on the trend as well. Social media is an easy way to reach out to patrons, especially teenagers and young adults. Libraries using social media is a simple way to inform the public about programs, events, and activities, as well as a gateway to see what patrons are engaged and interested in.  An example of this is a study performed by Purdue University to determine what social media sites students use and what they wanted to see from the library on social media. The study resulted in the formation of a social media committee and a clearer social media presence from the library. Social media also gives libraries a creative outlet to state their mission as well as attract non-library users. Some libraries have utilized the use of memes on social media to attract patrons. Andy Woodworth explains: “memes are a viable addition to any library’s social media strategy due to their flexibility in use and connotations, innate ability to be shared, and high placement in online popular culture.” Memes are easy to create and a fun and engaging way to get a message out to people. Instagram and Twitter are the perfect outlets for libraries to showcase creative posts such as memes, as these sites hold lots of creative content to begin with. Social media use is going to continue to grow in the years to come, so it’s important that libraries assess what social media sites will work best for their community and what content will be the most effective in reaching out to getting patrons attention. 

https://youtu.be/BcTLkT_mrf0  

References : 

Howard, Heather, et al. “Academic Libraries on Social Media: Finding the Students and the Information They Want.” Information Technology & Libraries, vol. 37, no. 1, Mar. 2018, pp. 8–18. EBSCOhost, doi:10.6017/ital.v37i1.10160.

Woodworth, Andy. “My Body Is Ready: Best Practices for Using Memes on Library Social Media.” Reference & User Services Quarterly, vol. 58, no. 2, Winter 2018, pp. 87–90. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=134186680&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Libraries as Social Hubs

Lauree Padgett states in their article The Social Library : “considering that libraries used to (and sometimes still do) have a reputation for being places for quiet contemplation, solitary study, and hushed voices, the word “social” seems like an odd adjective to use when describing them, yet more and more are becoming social hubs.” This statement couldn’t be more than true and Padgett hit the nail on the head. Not only is the library a place where you can borrow and use resources, but it’s also becoming a place where a community can gather, socialize, and share common interests. Many libraries have weekly activities, programs, classes, book clubs, etc. This gives libraries a great opportunity to engage with a community and pinpoint specific interests and needs based on the local demographic, as well as gets more people into the library. “When library staff embed themselves in the community, everyone benefits” (Hinze).

Here is a video of Shamichael Hallman discussing the steps Memphis Library is taking to becoming a social hub to reconnect with the community. He makes some great points about the importance of connecting with a community.

                                            https://youtu.be/JI2CLgq3LLk

 I live in a heavily Hispanic community and my local library has had events in the past that highlights Hispanic culture in art and food. My local library also has weekly story time and craft day for children. This program has been around for as long as I can remember. I remember attending as a young child and now my family takes my niece and nephew to the same program. I’ve also seen libraries taking steps to engage with teenagers and young adults. We have a coloring club for teenagers at my library and I’ve seen young adult book clubs forming. It’s very important to reach out to the youth. They are the next generation of library users. This generation of youth is powerful and they are going to do tremendous things for the future of libraries.

“Libraries are not only a vital barometer of community prosperity, but the conversations they can spark through programming and social media will redefine participatory culture.” – Brendan Howley

References

PADGETT, LAUREE. “The Social Library.” Information Today, vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2017, p. 23. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=126810320&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hinze, Shana. “Librarians as Community Ambassadors.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 27–30. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

HOWLEY, BRENDAN. “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs.” Information Today, vol. 35, no. 5, June 2018, pp. 15–16. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=130182780&site=ehost-live&scope=site. 

Libraries as Social Hubs

Since their inception, libraries have been ever-evolving social hubs. They serve as gathering places, elevating life in the communities they serve by fostering involvement and interconnectedness. Libraries act as social hubs not only due to the programs they offer, but simply because of their existence as a welcoming space. Public libraries are producers of trust and social capital because "they offer universal access to information services, treat all patrons equally, and provide a meeting place available to everyone" (Varheim, 259).

Locally, through the San Diego Public Library system, the "Do Your Homework at the Library" program is one way San Diego libraries serve as a social hub for connecting the community. Through this program, volunteers can help students, K-8, with their homework. Students can gather and work together with tutors to learn and get access to digital resources and other school materials they may need. These sorts of programs absolutely help to reinforce libraries as social hubs for learning and community engagement.

New Vision for San Diego Public Libraries -- The City of San Diego

Works Cited: 

Vårheim, Andreas. “Trust in Libraries and Trust in Most People: Social Capital Creation in the Public Library.” The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy, vol. 84, no. 3, 2014, pp. 258–277. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/676487. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.

"Social Role of the Library." Social Role of the Library: Libraries Matter, http://www.ala.org/tools/research/librariesmatter/category/social-role-library. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.

Libraries and the Homeless

Libraries are considered to be a safe space for many people, especially the homeless population. Homeless people and families seek refuge in the library for many reasons. The library is a comforting and safe place where they can take shelter during the day, especially when weather conditions are bad. At the library, homeless people have access to the internet and many other resources. However, libraries serving the homeless population has been somewhat of a controversy in the past. Whether this is because libraries deal with an overwhelming amount of homeless people or the stigma that surrounds homeless people, specifically mental illness and drug abuse among the homeless population, it is still the libraries job to serve homeless people. Patrick Grace states: “Homeless people are not stereotypes; they are members of our society. They are men, women, and children. They come from all national and ethnic backgrounds. They are native-born and immigrant. They are families, single men and women, and children on their own. And they have a right to visit and use our nation's public libraries.” Many libraries have started offering programs and services specifically for homeless people in hopes to help and better serve this group of patrons. A great example of a library working to help the homeless population is the Dallas Public Library. They have many programs for the homeless community in Dallas including music and art classes, a podcast, and a H.E.L.P desk where homeless people can go for guidance on looking for jobs, sheltering, etc. Here is a about the services the Dallas Public Library has for homeless people : 

                                                       https://youtu.be/oBQrihuxit8

It's important to remember that homeless people are human too. They want to seek the resources at the library just like we do and have every right to. Homeless people are some of the most loyal library users and I think the initiative libraries have been taking to support and advocate for this group is great and is a step in the right direction that our society needs.

References :

Grace, Patrick. “No Place to Go (Except the Public Library). (Cover Story).” American Libraries, vol. 31, no. 5, May 2000, p. 53. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=3072708&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

 “Homeless Engagement Initiative - Dallas Public Library.” YouTube, 7 May 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBQrihuxit8.

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Libraries and the Homeless

Here in San Diego, like in many other cities, libraries and the homeless community often intersect. A library can be one of the few places the homeless can go and feel welcome. But sometimes the needs of the homeless can overwhelm library staff, especially when they don't feel able to provide the services and resources individuals may need. In addition, it can also be a challenge to ensure they are creating a welcoming space for all while still keeping the safety and comfort of their staff and other patrons at the forefront. At the Central Library in downtown San Diego, more or less the epicenter of the homeless and mental health crisis in San Diego, the library has teamed up with San Diego County Health and Human Services to open a department on the third floor where those who need help can access information to resources and referrals. The services offered by this program include emergency housing referrals, referrals to doctors, and food distribution referrals. Creating partnerships with local programs that help the homeless can be very beneficial to a library and help take some of the burden off the shoulders of staff. For example, in 2008, the San Francisco Public Library became the first in the nation to hire its own full time psychiatric social worker (Ruhlmann, 43). The intersection of homelessness and libraries can be a complex issue, but creating awareness, proper training of staff, and providing access to much-needed resources are a few small ways to help those in need.

                      San Diego's Downtown Library Keeps Homeless Warm and Dry -- KPBS


Works Cited:
Ruhlmann, Ellyn. “A HOME to the HOMELESS.” American Libraries, vol. 45, no. 11/12, 2014, pp. 40–44., www.jstor.org/stable/24603545. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.

Libraries and the Homeless

Libraries are a public space for all in which access to information is paramount. Understandably, many unsheltered people take refuge in public libraries because they are safe, comfortable, welcoming, and climate-controlled, in addition to having valuable services, programs, and endless sources of information. But there are opportunities for libraries to not just include the homeless as patrons, but enable better access and services for this underserved population.

The homeless population of several cities has greatly increased over the last few years, and many public library systems have stepped up to the challenges of keeping their libraries accessible to all patrons, or becoming so if they weren't already. In Library Journal, Editor-in-Chief Rebecca T. Miller discusses barriers of access to information that the homeless face, and ways that those barriers can be eliminated or reduced. Two of the services mentioned are facilitating better access to showers and restrooms and enabling parents and caregivers to use computers for job seeking while their children play nearby. Making the library more usable for all helps remove the barriers to access to information. Miller suggests that it is not enough just to search for gaps in access, but that library staff need to go beyond and think of limitations of access as not just a challenge for patrons, but for public institutions to address and attempt to overcome (8).

The PBS report “Quiet Comfort” introduces us to the United States’ first full-time library social worker. This is another way that the San Francisco Public Library has assessed the needs of its patrons and adapted its staffing and services to help the community have maximum access to information.




How has your public library changed its services and programs to better meet the needs of your community's unsheltered population? What services do you think would be beneficial at your location? Tell us in the comments!

Works Cited

Miller, Rebecca T. “Real-World Barriers.” Library Journal, vol. 140, no. 16, Oct. 2015, p. 8. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=109996174&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Quiet Comfort: Library Social Worker Helps Homeless Seeking Quiet Refuge.” YouTube, PBS, 28 Jan. 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOeBLhs5Jko.

Libraries and Student Success

School libraries have long been safe spaces for students to find a good book and do research for assignments. But the library’s function in student success goes far beyond readers’ advisory and reference books. School library staff teach information literacy and technology, encourage critical thinking, and collaborate with teachers and school resource specialists to help students become not just better readers, but better students and researchers for life.

In the article “Equal Access + Equal Opportunity = Success For All Learners”, Schenell Agee explores ways that school libraries can better support students with disabilities. “Successful school libraries curate print and digital resources and resources that all learners can access” (Agee 26). Several tips and resources are provided for how to provide equal access to students with various disabilities, such as vision impairments, hearing impairments, and physical and cognitive disabilities. Without equal access, there cannot be equal opportunity, and the chances for student success are diminished. Incorporating accommodations and resources for students with disabilities makes it possible for library staff to help all patrons become better learners.

The video “Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabilities” discusses tips for such accommodations and modifications in the classroom. While school library staff are not typically involved in that aspect of the student’s day, it is beneficial for us to know what best practices are for the student with disabilities in school, and support and contribute to those accommodations in the library for student success for all.



What resources have made an impact on success for all students in your school library? Tell us in the comments!


Works Cited
“Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabilities.” YouTube, ECACorg, 25 Jan. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0xdaCEqrU0.

Agee, Schenell. “Equal Access + Equal Opportunity = Success for All Learners.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 48, no. 2, Jan. 2019, pp. 24–29. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1233107&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Libraries and Student Success

Libraries play a very important part in student success. Students view libraries as a positive and essential part of their lives (Neal, 2018). Libraries provide access to all kinds of resources for students. Some of these resources include information in a variety of formats, computers and other devices, free databases, a quiet and safe space for studying, as well as intellectual freedom, privacy and much more. Many public libraries have educational programs for children that encourage summer reading, 100 Books Before Kindergarten, etc.  However, libraries provide much more than resources to students. Libraries support students and want them to succeed in their studies. Libraries instill lifelong learning habits onto students. And this all starts in the school library.

The success of all libraries will depend on the essential work of school libraries. - Jim Neal

School libraries play an essential role in contributing to student success. A lot of the time, a school library is the first exposure kids have to the library. School librarians often collaborate with teachers to provide the best resources and learning experience for students.School libraries and librarians are a powerful means to help prepare students to live, work, and learn in the 21st century (Logan, 2008).  When a librarian advocates for the library, they are also advocating for students. Here is a video discussing why school libraries are important.

                                            https://youtu.be/WhDuT2YSMS4

My mom would always take my siblings and I to the library as kids for story/craft day as well as to complete any school assignments we had. I remember in fourth grade a group of friends and I went to the library to look for information on the California Missions. Our local librarian was very knowledgeable on the topic and was extremely  helpful for finding the right resources.  I’ve always felt comfortable going to the library for recreational or school purposes. I still to this day resort to my local library when I need resources or information for an assignment. In a way, I view my library as a home away from home.

References

Logan, D. K. (2008). Putting Students First. American Libraries, 39(1/2), 56–59. Library, Information Science, & Technology Abstracts.

Neal, J. (2018). Fight for School Libraries : Student Success Depends on Them. American Libraries, 49(3/4), 4–4. Library, Information Science, & Technology Abstracts.

Social Networking and Libraries

Those who don’t use libraries have long seen them as repositories of dusty old books. Library staff perennially seek to change this misrepresentation, and there is no better way to do so in our digital world than through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Because social media is consumed so heavily by the younger generations, the social networking phenomenon is also helping to advertise to that demographic, and shining light on the exciting and beneficial programs and services that libraries offer.

This is not only a winning strategy for public libraries, but academic ones as well. In the article “How Academic Libraries Can Leverage Social Networking to Popularize Their Services: An Empirical Study”, the authors review existing studies on how users respond to social media efforts of academic libraries. One key takeaway is that social media marketing for libraries should have a target and purpose for each social network used. Strategies must be utilized to maximize the effect of the social media accounts and individual posts, with the idea of getting “information relevant to users in a short period of time” (Booker and Bandayopadhyay 145). Likes and followers mean more exposure, and a carefully and strategically-implemented social networking effort gets the word out to more users without bombarding them with superfluous content.

In the video “Social Media for Libraries”, the Georgia Public Library Service offers training for “Strengthening Your Social Media Presence”. While this video is targeted to public libraries and not academic as the aforementioned study, the many tips presented can be applied by any library using social media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP_KywVp7Cs

How are social networks being used in your library? Have you seen more value in social networks that have emerged since this video was made in 2016? Tell us in the comments!

Works Cited
Booker, Latrice, and Subir Bandyopadhyay. “How Academic Libraries Can Leverage Social Networking to Popularize Their Services: An Empirical Study.” Journal of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences, vol. 16, no. 2, May 2017, pp. 129–146. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=129365572&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Social Media For Libraries.” YouTube, Georgia Public Library Service, 21 Mar. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP_KywVp7Cs.

Libraries as Social Hubs

In an ever-polarized and distracted world fraught with fake news and propaganda, the library strives to be the great community equalizer. In the article “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs”, published in Information Today in June 2018, Brendan Howley argues that “libraries matter because they’re the cornerstone and touchstone of shared stories – they embody and set free the culture in which we live” (Howley, 15). They encourage conversations and participation in community, and while social media can spark those conversations, the library facilitates that participation.

Howley lists six aspects that libraries facilitate, making them “critical community resources”. These are:

• Diversity of voice
• Social equity
• Transparency and social accountability
• Access to the building blocks of an open society
• Access to trusted repositories of community data
• Access to business intelligence for centers of small business and entrepreneurship (15)

In the TedX Talk video “Public Libraries: The Next Level”, Brampton Library’s CEO discusses how libraries are assisting patrons in creating their own content, as individuals and groups, further connecting them with their communities. She also explains how kids come to the library for their most popular program, LegoMania, and learn to engage in cooperation, which helps them move on to the next level of programming, LegoRobotics. This program, and several other STEM programs, help kids gain engineering and planning skills that will help them move to the next level as community members.



It is clear that beyond just being a place to get books or a space where the community can convene, libraries serve a much larger community, social, and educational purpose. This can be seen not only at the public library, but academic libraries as well. Study spaces encourage students to gather and exchange information. Library events encourage students to explore the library and feel part of the academic community. Students convene at the library for academics, often resulting in social connections and plans.

What changes have you seen in your library regarding its function as a social hub? Please comment!

Additional resources about this topic are cited below.


Works Cited

Harris, Ryan, et al. “Creating Shared Campus Experiences: The Library as Culture Club.” Journal of the Medical Library Association, vol. 101, no. 4, Oct. 2013, pp. 254–256. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3163/1536-5050.101.4.005.

Hinze, Shana. “Librarians as Community Ambassadors.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 1, Fall 2016, pp. 27–30. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118843606&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Howley, Brendan. “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs.” Information Today, vol. 35, no. 5, June 2018, pp. 15–16. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=130182780&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Padgett, Lauree. “The Social Library.” Information Today, vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2017, p. 23. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=126810320&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Public Libraries: The Next Level.” YouTube, TedX, 2 Oct. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frOurFNzFE0.

Libraries and Student Success

Libraries are integral to student success. When schools and libraries have a strong relationship, children benefit the most. By supporting school curriculum, having a wide variety of engaging books at different levels, programs that promote reading, and good technology resources, there are numerous ways libraries can help promote the education of children. "Research has shown a positive relationship between investment in school libraries and student achievement in reading and writing." Simply having access to print materials can improve attitudes towards reading, how long and how often a child reads, and their reading performance (Bleidt, 68). In addition, when libraries are well staffed so that children can receive proper instruction in research and retrieving items, these skills can serve them well going forward in their academic and personal lives, too.

                                    Children in Reading Room, Santa Fe Public Library, 1957
                                     http://www.palaceofthegovernors.org/photoarchives.html


Works Cited:
Bleidt, Shirley A. “How Students Utilize and Perceive Their School Library.” American Secondary Education, vol. 39, no. 3, 2011, pp. 67–85. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23100424. Accessed 21 Apr. 2020.

Libraries and Student Success

Libraries have an important role in student’s lives that will benefit them long after graduation. Though usually overlooked, libraries provide resources to students that will prepare them for their chosen profession. Anne Marie Gruber says in her article,  Real World Research: A Qualitative Study of Faculty Perceptions of the Library’s Role in Service-Learning, by providing Service-learning (SL) opportunities for students to improve on their writing, speaking, critical thinking, and intercultural competency, students will develop skills that will translate into their chosen career. Service-learning is an approach educational institutes use, that allow students to perform community services that align with their learning outcomes.

“Librarians are well-positioned to help students prepare for service-learning opportunities by gathering evidence-based information about the communities in which such learning takes place (Gruber).” 

 Students that use service-learning have opportunities to meet and work with potential employers, allowing them to get hands on experience and make connections. 

For the Service-learning to be most affective, teaching faculty and library staff would work together and collaborate with one another. The benefit of this collaboration, is the library assistance  to provide the chance for students to develop critical thinking skills, acquire new and more information, use affective research skills, and be able to ask librarians questions. 

Works Cited

Gruber, Anne Marie. “Real-World Research: A Qualitative Study of Faculty Perceptions of the Library’s Role in Service-Learning.” Portal: Libraries & the Academy, vol. 18, no. 4, Oct. 2018, pp. 671–692. 

EBSCOhost, doi:10.1353/pla.2018.0040. 

"Service Learning Definition." University of Central Oklahoma Service Learning Definition

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