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"I’M SORRY. I HAVEN’T BEEN TRAINED ON THAT, SO LET ME FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO ASSIST YOU“

DIGITAL LITERACY COMPETENCIES AMONG GEORGIA PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF

PRESENTED BY:

WENDY KNIGHT, TROUP-HARRIS REGIONAL LIBRARY CLINT MOXLEY, THREE RIVERS REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM KIMBERLEY SNODDY-GEORGE, FULTON COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM MARY STRICKER, DEKALB COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

TECHNOLOGY IS HERE TO STAY

Georgia Public Library staff is expected to help patrons with digital needs and answer questions as libraries are still finding their place in the Digital Age.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY DIGITAL LITERACY?

According to ALA’s Digital Literacy Task Force, “digital literacy is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.”

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

According to the Pew Research Center’s 2016 report on libraries, the majority of respondents no longer view the library as simply a repository for books.

31%

Do physical books still have a place in the library?

Definitely Yes Definitely No Undecide d but leans towards no

30% 39%

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

Public library access equals

• pportunity.

100% of public libraries offer access to the

internet.

98% offer free WiFi. 90% help patrons with basic internet skills. 97% help people complete online government

forms.

90% offer access to ebooks.

Source: American Library Association (2014)

PATRON USAGE

DIGITAL LITERACY IN THE WORKPLACE

American employers are now requiring applicants to have a more advanced digital skillset than they did in the past.

Source: Brookings Institute (2017)

STAFF DIGITAL LITERACY

How confident are we that our front-line staff can efficiently and effectively meet the digital literacy needs of Georgia patrons?

OUR APPROACH

• Our rubric for trying to measure staff digital literacy was a survey.
• Survey was sent out to all 62 public library systems in Georgia.
• Survey addressed: library size, number of staff, and level of staff

digital knowledge.

THE SURVEY RESULTS

42% of Georgia public libraries systems responded to the survey 77% 23%

THE SURVEY RESULTS

81% 19%

THE SURVEY RESULTS

• Are staff expected to help patrons with questions about their

personal devices? ~ 84 % answered YES.

• How willing is your staff to adapt to new technologies? ~ 81 % said

their staff were willing to adapt.

• Do you have staff who, despite training, continue to struggle with

providing digital assistance to patrons? ~ 85% answered YES.

STAFF COMPETENCIES

What do we expect from our staff members?

• 26% have no expectations

○ “none” ○ “no specific requirements” ○ “no explicit requirements” ○ “nothing concrete”

• 23% point to “vague and generic” job descriptions

○ “proficient use of a personal computer” ○ “operating a computer and applicable software”

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

• Define competencies
• Update job descriptions
• Create a checklist

Printers and Printing Turn the printer on and off Load paper Clear a paper jam Replace toner Use print preview Switch between portrait and landscape printing Print specific pages or selections Print multiple copies

Source: Taken from Colorado State Library’s Technology Proficiency Checklist

HOW CAN YOU GET THERE?

• Be creative
• Involve staff
• Offer a range of classes from a range of

sources

MOVING FORWARD

• Get feedback from staff
• Check improvement
• Adjust as needed

FURTHER RESOURCES

Checklist examples, webinars and helpful websites: https://bit.ly/2M7LW5E

QUESTION S?

Contact Information:

Wendy Knight: wknight@thrl.org Clint Moxley: cmoxley@trrl.org Kimberly Snoddy-George: kimberly.george@fultoncountyga.gov Mary Stricker: strickerm@dekalblibrary.org