[Music] hello everybody I am here today to talk
hello everybody I am here today to talk
hello everybody I am here today to talk with you about future librarians as the
with you about future librarians as the
with you about future librarians as the world becomes increasingly digital we’re
world becomes increasingly digital we’re
world becomes increasingly digital we’re required to know how to use digital
required to know how to use digital
required to know how to use digital tools but especially for the lowest
tools but especially for the lowest
tools but especially for the lowest income communities and families access
income communities and families access
income communities and families access to skill building programs to learn
to skill building programs to learn
to skill building programs to learn digital skills are few and far between
digital skills are few and far between
digital skills are few and far between in this world I see now two trends one
in this world I see now two trends one
in this world I see now two trends one is that access to information is
is that access to information is
is that access to information is increasing while the accessibility of
increasing while the accessibility of
increasing while the accessibility of information is actually on the decline
information is actually on the decline
information is actually on the decline what’s the difference
technically most Americans have access
technically most Americans have access to computers and internet accessibility
to computers and internet accessibility
to computers and internet accessibility involves how we use those digital tools
so for example in rural Minnesota where
so for example in rural Minnesota where we’re working with the national
we’re working with the national
we’re working with the national libraries of medicine it’s not uncommon
libraries of medicine it’s not uncommon
libraries of medicine it’s not uncommon to see folks huddled around outside of a
to see folks huddled around outside of a
to see folks huddled around outside of a library after hours to try and get a
library after hours to try and get a
library after hours to try and get a Wi-Fi signal we’ve even seen folks
Wi-Fi signal we’ve even seen folks
Wi-Fi signal we’ve even seen folks Proctor exams sitting on the sidewalks
Proctor exams sitting on the sidewalks
Proctor exams sitting on the sidewalks that’s an access challenge here’s an
that’s an access challenge here’s an
that’s an access challenge here’s an accessibility example so in Detroit some
accessibility example so in Detroit some
accessibility example so in Detroit some of the families that we’ve been working
of the families that we’ve been working
of the families that we’ve been working with have had their utilities cut off
with have had their utilities cut off
with have had their utilities cut off since this plan the low-income
since this plan the low-income
since this plan the low-income self-sufficiency plan has moved from
self-sufficiency plan has moved from
self-sufficiency plan has moved from in-person to web-based application
in-person to web-based application
in-person to web-based application processes a lot of the families we work
processes a lot of the families we work
processes a lot of the families we work with do you have a cell phone that do
with do you have a cell phone that do
with do you have a cell phone that do have cellular data but they don’t know
have cellular data but they don’t know
have cellular data but they don’t know how to find these forms or how to fill
how to find these forms or how to fill
how to find these forms or how to fill them out that’s to me an accessibility
them out that’s to me an accessibility
them out that’s to me an accessibility challenge and especially in the winter
challenge and especially in the winter
challenge and especially in the winter the librarians we work with get
the librarians we work with get
the librarians we work with get inundated with these questions
at libraries a lot borders our mission
at libraries a lot borders our mission is to expand both access and
is to expand both access and
is to expand both access and accessibility of information and how do
accessibility of information and how do
accessibility of information and how do we do this so I’ll give you one example
we do this so I’ll give you one example
we do this so I’ll give you one example in 2015 we pitched an idea to the New
in 2015 we pitched an idea to the New
in 2015 we pitched an idea to the New York Public Library to work with us to
York Public Library to work with us to
York Public Library to work with us to build pop-up digital classrooms and
build pop-up digital classrooms and
build pop-up digital classrooms and libraries in the South Bronx
libraries in the South Bronx
libraries in the South Bronx we started by building out programs in
we started by building out programs in
we started by building out programs in public parks and moved to lobbies of
public parks and moved to lobbies of
public parks and moved to lobbies of low-income housing legal aid waiting
low-income housing legal aid waiting
low-income housing legal aid waiting offices hospital waiting rooms churches
offices hospital waiting rooms churches
offices hospital waiting rooms churches community centers subway stations and
community centers subway stations and
community centers subway stations and what we found was that the best best
what we found was that the best best
what we found was that the best best best spot to build these programs was
best spot to build these programs was
best spot to build these programs was outside of the laundromat and it seems
outside of the laundromat and it seems
outside of the laundromat and it seems pretty obvious right it’s a time when
pretty obvious right it’s a time when
pretty obvious right it’s a time when families are almost necessarily they
families are almost necessarily they
families are almost necessarily they have to go weekly it’s a time when you
have to go weekly it’s a time when you
have to go weekly it’s a time when you have 90 minutes or so while you’re
have 90 minutes or so while you’re
have 90 minutes or so while you’re waiting for your laundry to wash and dry
waiting for your laundry to wash and dry
waiting for your laundry to wash and dry and for us this was a really exciting
and for us this was a really exciting
and for us this was a really exciting find because a lot of these families are
find because a lot of these families are
find because a lot of these families are the ones that have fallen through the
the ones that have fallen through the
the ones that have fallen through the cracks of other social service systems
cracks of other social service systems
cracks of other social service systems and required us to in the past do
and required us to in the past do
and required us to in the past do expensive home visits to be able to get
expensive home visits to be able to get
expensive home visits to be able to get back into our programs so with this
back into our programs so with this
back into our programs so with this learning from the South Bronx we built
learning from the South Bronx we built
learning from the South Bronx we built something called the wash and learn
something called the wash and learn
something called the wash and learn initiative here’s a photo from one of
initiative here’s a photo from one of
initiative here’s a photo from one of our programs in Detroit it’s now a
our programs in Detroit it’s now a
our programs in Detroit it’s now a national program that we are working on
national program that we are working on
national program that we are working on to not only build out as you can see not
to not only build out as you can see not
to not only build out as you can see not only build out bookshelves with curated
only build out bookshelves with curated
only build out bookshelves with curated texts for families to take home and
texts for families to take home and
texts for families to take home and materials from our partners like too
materials from our partners like too
materials from our partners like too small to fail for parents to learn more
small to fail for parents to learn more
small to fail for parents to learn more about early learning but also building
about early learning but also building
about early learning but also building in curated Wi-Fi hotspots that go in the
in curated Wi-Fi hotspots that go in the
in curated Wi-Fi hotspots that go in the back office of the laundromat so that
back office of the laundromat so that
back office of the laundromat so that people can use their own cell phone
people can use their own cell phone
people can use their own cell phone devices to learn about new education
devices to learn about new education
devices to learn about new education technology
technology
technology and also with laptops and computers
and also with laptops and computers
and also with laptops and computers installed but most most most importantly
installed but most most most importantly
installed but most most most importantly I think the reason why this program has
I think the reason why this program has
I think the reason why this program has been successful is that we’ve been
been successful is that we’ve been
been successful is that we’ve been working with local libraries to convene
working with local libraries to convene
working with local libraries to convene any and every local nonprofit to bring
any and every local nonprofit to bring
any and every local nonprofit to bring their programs to these laundromat
their programs to these laundromat
their programs to these laundromat libraries at the laundromats busiest
libraries at the laundromats busiest
libraries at the laundromats busiest times so whereas a lot of programs have
times so whereas a lot of programs have
times so whereas a lot of programs have had to spend a lot of resources on
had to spend a lot of resources on
had to spend a lot of resources on outreach and recruitment and enrollment
outreach and recruitment and enrollment
outreach and recruitment and enrollment if we design them in a way that fits
if we design them in a way that fits
if we design them in a way that fits between wash and dry cycles on Saturdays
between wash and dry cycles on Saturdays
between wash and dry cycles on Saturdays and Sundays and in the evenings we don’t
and Sundays and in the evenings we don’t
and Sundays and in the evenings we don’t need to do any kind of outreach so what
need to do any kind of outreach so what
need to do any kind of outreach so what are the barriers though that that this
are the barriers though that that this
are the barriers though that that this is really overcoming why is this program
is really overcoming why is this program
is really overcoming why is this program successful I think that the first one is
successful I think that the first one is
successful I think that the first one is a scheduling barrier so in Detroit one
a scheduling barrier so in Detroit one
a scheduling barrier so in Detroit one of the women that had participated in
of the women that had participated in
of the women that had participated in our program and not come back after the
our program and not come back after the
our program and not come back after the second session I asked her you know what
second session I asked her you know what
second session I asked her you know what feedback can you give us to to make this
feedback can you give us to to make this
feedback can you give us to to make this more accessible for you and I was
more accessible for you and I was
more accessible for you and I was expecting her to tell us some stories or
expecting her to tell us some stories or
expecting her to tell us some stories or feedback on the curriculum design or the
feedback on the curriculum design or the
feedback on the curriculum design or the pedagogical methodology but what she
pedagogical methodology but what she
pedagogical methodology but what she said to us was she works in a restaurant
said to us was she works in a restaurant
said to us was she works in a restaurant she gets her schedules on Sundays it’s
she gets her schedules on Sundays it’s
she gets her schedules on Sundays it’s different every week our program at the
different every week our program at the
different every week our program at the library was meeting on Wednesdays at 6
library was meeting on Wednesdays at 6
library was meeting on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and if we have a consistently
p.m. and if we have a consistently
p.m. and if we have a consistently scheduled program it’s very very hard
scheduled program it’s very very hard
scheduled program it’s very very hard for folks who work in service industries
for folks who work in service industries
for folks who work in service industries to be able to make it she dropped out of
to be able to make it she dropped out of
to be able to make it she dropped out of the third session because it conflicted
the third session because it conflicted
the third session because it conflicted with one of her shifts she couldn’t
with one of her shifts she couldn’t
with one of her shifts she couldn’t afford to miss that shift she was
afford to miss that shift she was
afford to miss that shift she was embarrassed that she dropped out and
embarrassed that she dropped out and
embarrassed that she dropped out and hasn’t signed up for another
hasn’t signed up for another
hasn’t signed up for another professional development program since
second I think there are skills barriers
second I think there are skills barriers and what I mean by this area you know as
and what I mean by this area you know as
and what I mean by this area you know as the world is becoming and holding people
the world is becoming and holding people
the world is becoming and holding people responsible to not only ask but answer
responsible to not only ask but answer
responsible to not only ask but answer their own questions online
their own questions online
their own questions online who are who are who is teaching these
who are who are who is teaching these
who are who are who is teaching these people how to in everyone how to have
people how to in everyone how to have
people how to in everyone how to have the basic literacy digital literacy
the basic literacy digital literacy
the basic literacy digital literacy information literacy and media literacy
information literacy and media literacy
information literacy and media literacy skills to do so effectively and most
skills to do so effectively and most
skills to do so effectively and most complicated and and I think this this
complicated and and I think this this
complicated and and I think this this deserves a whole talk on its own
deserves a whole talk on its own
deserves a whole talk on its own there are psychosocial barriers with
there are psychosocial barriers with
there are psychosocial barriers with with this crowd I’ll give this example
with this crowd I’ll give this example
with this crowd I’ll give this example which is when we think about why
which is when we think about why
which is when we think about why CrossFit or SoulCycle is is so popular
CrossFit or SoulCycle is is so popular
CrossFit or SoulCycle is is so popular and why people are paying so much money
and why people are paying so much money
and why people are paying so much money for it I don’t necessarily think that
for it I don’t necessarily think that
for it I don’t necessarily think that it’s because by enrolling in those
it’s because by enrolling in those
it’s because by enrolling in those classes you’re learning a new skill or a
classes you’re learning a new skill or a
classes you’re learning a new skill or a new technique each class I think that
new technique each class I think that
new technique each class I think that there’s something around the social
there’s something around the social
there’s something around the social community and the social support network
community and the social support network
community and the social support network around that that you’re really paying
around that that you’re really paying
around that that you’re really paying for right but if you are in a low-income
for right but if you are in a low-income
for right but if you are in a low-income community a low literacy community
community a low literacy community
community a low literacy community what are your social support networks
what are your social support networks
what are your social support networks that help you as a lifelong learner in
that help you as a lifelong learner in
that help you as a lifelong learner in the same way that a private trainer
the same way that a private trainer
the same way that a private trainer fitness trainer might be really working
fitness trainer might be really working
fitness trainer might be really working with you with pep talks and and talking
with you with pep talks and and talking
with you with pep talks and and talking you through how to reimagine your your
you through how to reimagine your your
you through how to reimagine your your identity as an athlete who are the ones
identity as an athlete who are the ones
identity as an athlete who are the ones that are helping folks who might be
that are helping folks who might be
that are helping folks who might be intimidated by Yale by libraries to
intimidated by Yale by libraries to
intimidated by Yale by libraries to reimagine themselves as lifelong
reimagine themselves as lifelong
reimagine themselves as lifelong learners
so we have my three bullet points
so we have my three bullet points written in black on this board so we
written in black on this board so we
written in black on this board so we have our three barriers scheduling
have our three barriers scheduling
have our three barriers scheduling barriers skills barriers psychosocial
barriers skills barriers psychosocial
barriers skills barriers psychosocial barriers to make up what I’m calling
barriers to make up what I’m calling
barriers to make up what I’m calling accessibility barriers to information at
accessibility barriers to information at
accessibility barriers to information at libraries at borders we have been
libraries at borders we have been
libraries at borders we have been breaking these barriers down at local
breaking these barriers down at local
breaking these barriers down at local levels we do this through programs like
levels we do this through programs like
levels we do this through programs like wash and learn we’ve run programs with
wash and learn we’ve run programs with
wash and learn we’ve run programs with UNHCR in refugee camps in Colombia with
UNHCR in refugee camps in Colombia with
UNHCR in refugee camps in Colombia with ex FARC and demobilization zones in
ex FARC and demobilization zones in
ex FARC and demobilization zones in Greece in Italy with migrants and
Greece in Italy with migrants and
Greece in Italy with migrants and homeless shelters in France each of
homeless shelters in France each of
homeless shelters in France each of these I think we’ve we’ve done a lot of
these I think we’ve we’ve done a lot of
these I think we’ve we’ve done a lot of thought and inclusive designs around how
thought and inclusive designs around how
thought and inclusive designs around how to make information more accessible for
to make information more accessible for
to make information more accessible for those particular communities but I think
those particular communities but I think
those particular communities but I think the bigger question to ask for all of us
the bigger question to ask for all of us
the bigger question to ask for all of us is how do we take those best practices
is how do we take those best practices
is how do we take those best practices and think about how to break down
and think about how to break down
and think about how to break down accessibility barriers systemically to
accessibility barriers systemically to
accessibility barriers systemically to answer that I think the first question
answer that I think the first question
answer that I think the first question we need to ask is who do we trust to be
we need to ask is who do we trust to be
we need to ask is who do we trust to be responsible for that for breaking down
responsible for that for breaking down
responsible for that for breaking down those barriers is it private companies
those barriers is it private companies
those barriers is it private companies who are going to be most efficient at it
who are going to be most efficient at it
who are going to be most efficient at it but might not be able to move themselves
but might not be able to move themselves
but might not be able to move themselves away from the business structures that
away from the business structures that
away from the business structures that hold them accountable to their
hold them accountable to their
hold them accountable to their advertisers there’s a Pew Research poll
advertisers there’s a Pew Research poll
advertisers there’s a Pew Research poll that says that more people trust their
that says that more people trust their
that says that more people trust their local librarian than any national
local librarian than any national
local librarian than any national newspaper any local newspaper or even in
newspaper any local newspaper or even in
newspaper any local newspaper or even in a local their own health provider I
a local their own health provider I
a local their own health provider I think there’s something that we can
think there’s something that we can
think there’s something that we can build from that to really and really
build from that to really and really
build from that to really and really leverage that trust to be doing
leverage that trust to be doing
leverage that trust to be doing something here I think that the person
something here I think that the person
something here I think that the person the people that we should be holding
the people that we should be holding
the people that we should be holding responsible and giving authority to to
responsible and giving authority to to
responsible and giving authority to to do this work are our public librarians
today in library school you’re not just
today in library school you’re not just learning how to stack books sign people
learning how to stack books sign people
learning how to stack books sign people up for library cards the best library
up for library cards the best library
up for library cards the best library schools are teaching human centered
schools are teaching human centered
schools are teaching human centered design they’re teaching information
design they’re teaching information
design they’re teaching information technology librarians around the country
technology librarians around the country
technology librarians around the country are doing everything from being right
are doing everything from being right
are doing everything from being right now at the frontline of the opioid
now at the frontline of the opioid
now at the frontline of the opioid crisis to revitalizing Native American
crisis to revitalizing Native American
crisis to revitalizing Native American languages offering 24/7 homework help
languages offering 24/7 homework help
languages offering 24/7 homework help signing people up for email accounts I
think that we should be putting more of
think that we should be putting more of our trust in these future librarians
our trust in these future librarians
our trust in these future librarians here’s another example
here’s another example
here’s another example so in Idaho librarians offer a program
so in Idaho librarians offer a program
so in Idaho librarians offer a program with resources provided by the national
with resources provided by the national
with resources provided by the national library services to help blind and
library services to help blind and
library services to help blind and visually impaired gain access to audio
visually impaired gain access to audio
visually impaired gain access to audio books and other technologies here in
books and other technologies here in
books and other technologies here in Connecticut the law library actually
Connecticut the law library actually
Connecticut the law library actually provides digital resources for folks who
provides digital resources for folks who
provides digital resources for folks who are representing themselves pro se in
are representing themselves pro se in
are representing themselves pro se in courts which as you know are some of the
courts which as you know are some of the
courts which as you know are some of the most vulnerable folks in our communities
most vulnerable folks in our communities
most vulnerable folks in our communities both of these and many other programs
both of these and many other programs
both of these and many other programs like these that are making information
like these that are making information
like these that are making information more accessible are currently at the
more accessible are currently at the
more accessible are currently at the threat of being cut because the federal
threat of being cut because the federal
threat of being cut because the federal government’s the federal ministrations
government’s the federal ministrations
government’s the federal ministrations proposed new budget cuts funding to
proposed new budget cuts funding to
proposed new budget cuts funding to libraries completely no funding for
libraries completely no funding for
libraries completely no funding for libraries at all campaigns like every
libraries at all campaigns like every
libraries at all campaigns like every library which is our small and scrappy
library which is our small and scrappy
library which is our small and scrappy library super PAC are not just fighting
library super PAC are not just fighting
library super PAC are not just fighting for the reap bringing back in
for the reap bringing back in
for the reap bringing back in revitalization of this nostalgic idea of
revitalization of this nostalgic idea of
revitalization of this nostalgic idea of shelves library advocates like every
shelves library advocates like every
shelves library advocates like every library like libraries Without Borders
library like libraries Without Borders
library like libraries Without Borders what we’re trying to do is to put more
what we’re trying to do is to put more
what we’re trying to do is to put more resources and give more resources to
resources and give more resources to
resources and give more resources to local trusted experts who are innovating
local trusted experts who are innovating
local trusted experts who are innovating dynamically innovating solutions to
dynamically innovating solutions to
dynamically innovating solutions to information access and accessibility
information access and accessibility
information access and accessibility challenges in their own communities
I think that as we move into an
I think that as we move into an increasingly digital age what we’re
increasingly digital age what we’re
increasingly digital age what we’re doing right now with libraries is
doing right now with libraries is
doing right now with libraries is creating an army of information warriors
creating an army of information warriors
creating an army of information warriors the theme of this TEDx event is
the theme of this TEDx event is
the theme of this TEDx event is uncharted and more than ever I think
uncharted and more than ever I think
uncharted and more than ever I think we’re moving into an uncharted territory
we’re moving into an uncharted territory
we’re moving into an uncharted territory of misinformation in that space
of misinformation in that space
of misinformation in that space librarians have a more important role to
librarians have a more important role to
librarians have a more important role to play than ever
librarians will be the ones that work
librarians will be the ones that work alongside big tech firms apps algorithms
alongside big tech firms apps algorithms
alongside big tech firms apps algorithms that currently aren’t working at
that currently aren’t working at
that currently aren’t working at fighting against these misinformation
fighting against these misinformation
fighting against these misinformation campaigns to be dynamically creating
campaigns to be dynamically creating
campaigns to be dynamically creating culturally emotionally and socially
culturally emotionally and socially
culturally emotionally and socially sensitive innovations and solutions to
sensitive innovations and solutions to
sensitive innovations and solutions to these information challenges to me that
these information challenges to me that
these information challenges to me that is the present the past and the future
is the present the past and the future
is the present the past and the future of librarian thank you
of librarian thank you
of librarian thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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