Your technology outreach adventure : tools for human-centered problem solving

Title:

Author:

Berman, Erin author

ISBN:

9780838917787

Publication:

Chicago : ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association, 2019.

Physical Description:

xiii, 188 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

General Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Contents:

Bridging the digital divide -- Outreach fundamentals -- Technology-based outreach planning -- Design thinking -- Best practices for design -- Design thinking exercises: a path to creative problem solving -- Planning a technology-based outreach: a design thinking journey from start to finish -- Technology outreach in practice: real-world case studies.

Abstract:

"The library is the great equalizer. Today, for access to information, for informed and engaged citizenship, technology must be part of the mix. Are you getting to the people who don't walk in your doors? It's time to take technology on the road. This design-thinking guide will develop staff's creative problem-solving skills. You will learn to design and prototype ideas safely, quickly, and with confidence"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Library outreach programs -- United States.

Technological literacy -- Study and teaching -- Activity programs -- United States.

Libraries -- Information technology -- United States.

Libraries and community -- United States.

Libraries and community. (OCoLC)fst00997508

Libraries -- Information technology. (OCoLC)fst00997410

Library outreach programs. (OCoLC)fst00997869

Geographic Term:

United States.

Local Subject:

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE COLLECTION

Available:

Library	Call Number	Material Type	Status
Searching... State Library of Oregon	027.42 Berma	4-Week Loan	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

From straightforward internet access to elaborate makerspaces, libraries have taken center stage when it comes to providing free access to technology to those who visit their physical spaces. But how about people who don't walk into a library? How do we ensure those members of the community are also being reached by technology programming? It's time to launch an adventure! Berman, named an ALA Emerging Leader and Library Journal Mover & Shaker, provides readers with a comprehensive plan for creating and implementing successful technology-based outreach. She also teaches readers design thinking skills that can enable library staff to become creative problem solvers. Sharing the methods and experiences of her team at San José Public Library, Berman's guide

presents numerous real-world case studies, including videomaking in a skate park, e-readers for seniors, popup mobile makerspaces, and simple circuits in middle school, that will inspire readers to move technology beyond the walls of the library; offers dozens of design thinking exercises, such as rapid prototyping, empathy mapping, and logic models, as part of a start-to-finish model for developing a new program concept; discusses the origins of and reasons behind the digital divide, then shares outreach fundamentals and best practices that will help ensure success; and provides information about ways to connect with the community, perform evaluation, offer STEM programming, and additional resources.

This guide will empower libraries to design and prototype technology-based outreach ideas safely, quickly, and with confidence, leading to better service for all members of the community.

Summary:

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Berman (innovations manager, San Jose P.L.) argues that public libraries underserve community members who lack technology literacy and cannot attend the library. The solution? Technology outreach, which is not merely introducing patrons to new devices but teaching creative thinking and problem solving. Berman proposes using design-thinking techniques, comprised of identifying outcomes, meeting stakeholders, brainstorming, prototyping and evaluating, emphasizing multiple iterations, and learning from failures. She provides examples and case studies for each step. Design thinking will be familiar to those who use contextual inquiry, and will pair well with outcome-based evaluation. The major strength of this volume is the framework: design thinking can be applied to all forms of outreach (not just technology), to workflow and process improvement, and to policy drafting. The limitation, however, is the time and staff intensity of the process, with which smaller libraries might struggle. Additionally, the case studies mostly reflect a larger, resource- and personnel-rich organization. Still, the design-thinking method is adaptable with some effort. VERDICT Recommended not just for those planning technology outreach but for librarians involved in any kind of programming, procedure changes, and project implementations at any size or type of library.-Evan M. Anderson, Kirkendall P.L., Ankeny, IA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.