Embracing eResources

In 2008 I joined Twitter with a brainstorm of thinking I’d have an Information Literacy Twitter handle  [InfoLit4U] and I’d tweet ideas and reminders to our students as they embarked on their research journey.  It was a good idea, but in reality there was a big black hole in the Twitterverse. There were no students hanging out on Twitter and those who were didn’t want to hear my warble.  

Fast-forward seven years and we find our connected learning environment has evolved to embrace Twitter and other eTools now being used for instruction, assessment, reading, and research. The Pew Internet studies report that 92% of students go online daily with devices, and so we find ourselves needing to embrace this literacy mode with rich reading and research resources.  The digital divide is disappearing with only 6% reporting weekly or less connection.  The time to embrace this connection is now, and the place to connect includes your Cybrary.

We know there’s value in printed books, deep reading, deep learning and the reliability of print products, which passed the editorial gatekeeper. But, we do not want to mirror the reputation of the Luddites who revolted against invention and innovation. We must support both literacies: paper-print and eResources.  Some people have called this literacy “transliteracy,” but it’s bigger than two platforms.  We are reaching students who read and live in a literacy ecosystem. This is a large habitat that is not endangered.  In fact, it is growing.  Our metaliterate learners are absorbing facts, figures, and fiction via a multitude of platforms. 

We teach a generation of instant students who have taken instant to a new level.  We Boomers and Gen-X adults were raised with Instant Pudding, Instant Oatmeal, and an Instamatic while Millennials have been raised with Instant Messaging and Instagram.  Their desire is akin to our desires.  It’s just not oatmeal or Polaroids. They want their information, they want it now—and they want it electronically.  That same demand for easy online access often breeds mediocrity in materials as insufficient time is spent evaluating before consuming.  Our job has never been more valuable and our need is only increasing.  As schools open their doors this academic year, students are expecting change and hoping this change includes devices, eResources, and assignments embracing both.

Librarians play a vital role as the Gatekeeper for information. We hold the keys to the kingdom and can help students connect, access, evaluate, synthesize, and conclude. Our information kingdom should include eResources.  Even without funding for eBooks or databases, we can amass a plethora of possibilities for our catalog and library links. With the glut of easy-access however, comes the obvious necessity of training our students to evaluate what they consume. 

As we launch the new academic year and our new magazine, we hope to provide instructional ideas for your library and learning environment.  As we contemplate instruction and eResources, perhaps we can pick an eResource goal for our Cybrary.  Here are a few to consider:

• Add free resources to the catalog
• Spend time strengthening your online presence
• Make friends in the tech department
• Order plastic banners to display information literacy principles--guerilla marketing style. Slogans such as:  Who’s your source?!  Or,Write it & cite it!
• Establish an acronym for evaluation: CARP, CRAP, CARS, and others work well as pneumonic devices to remember how to evaluate. (Ex. CARS = credible, accurate, reliable, supported?)
• Start a campaign, or apply for grants, to fund missing eResources and devices for demographics that are typically in need.
• Inquire about possible Title I funds that may be used to purchase resources for your at-risk students.  You may be surprised to find out they listen.

http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/