Libraries Play a Key Role in Digital Literacy

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Libraries and literacy are inextricably linked.

But this link extends into the digital realm as well, as content continues to shift online.

Feb. 1 marked the first celebration of Digital Learning Day, a nationwide acknowledgment of the important role technology plays in building the skills necessary for people of all ages to succeed in school, a career and life. Thirty-six states and more than 12,700 teachers participated.

Libraries throughout the country also took part, including those in New York State.

The New York Library Association is developing a curriculum that will include classes to be offered at public libraries statewide. Training for librarians who will teach these classes will begin this spring. This initiative is being funded by a $781,000 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant.

"Libraries are essential partners in digital learning and digital literacy," said NYLA Executive Director Michael Borges. "Digital Learning Day is a great opportunity to gather examples to illustrate our work so that we may more effectively advocate and highlight current practices to stakeholders."

In Parkland High School in Pennsylvania, the Library/Media Center showcased the ways in which digital technology complements the lessons in the classroom. 

Activities included an English class embarking on a "Crucible" Web quest challenging students to make connections between the Salem "witch hunts" of the 1600s to contemporary "witch hunts."

A history class signed out laptop carts to work on Federalist period presentations that involve script-writing, filming and video-editing.

And an interactive display of the human body that was created by a Parkland biology teacher, as well as some robots designed by Technology Education students learning about production materials and processes, was also presented at the media center.

In the Chambersburg Area Middle School, also in Pennsylvania, school librarian Teresa Miller and Principal Kurt Widmann encouraged teachers to develop lessons that showed off their digital skills in the classroom.

An example of this was in Diana Kongkeattikul's seventh-grade ancient history class, where  students focusing on ancient India conducted interviews on flip cameras. 

Sponsored by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Digital Learning Day is a nationwide celebration of innovative teaching and learning through digital media and technology that engages students and provides them with a rich, personalized educational experience. 

Photo credit: Student working on Digital Learning Day by vancouverfilmschool.