Digital Inclusion, Teens, and Your Library: Exploring the Issues and Acting on Them (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series)

198 Pages·2005·0.63 MB·English

by  Lesley S. J. Farmer

DIGITAL
INCLUSION, TEENS,
AND YOUR
LIBRARY
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DIGITAL
INCLUSION, TEENS,
AND YOUR
LIBRARY
XXX
Exploring the Issues and Acting
on Them
Lesley S.J. Farmer
Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult
Librarians Series
C. Allen Nichols and Mary Anne Nichols
Westport, Connecticut . London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Farmer, Lesley S. J.
Digital inclusion, teens, and your library : exploring the issues and acting on them /
Lesley S. J. Farmer.
p. cm.—(Libraries Unlimited professional guides for young adult librarians,
ISSN 1532–5571)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1–59158–128–1 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Libraries and teenagers—United States. 2. Internet in young adults’ libraries—
United States. 3. Internet and teenagers—United States. 4. Technology and youth—
United States. 5. Digital divide—United States. I. Title. II. Libraries Unlimited
professional guides for young adult librarians.
Z718.5.F36 2005
027.62'6—dc22 2004063833
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2005 by Libraries Unlimited
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004063833
ISBN: 1–59158–128–1
ISSN: 1532–5571
First published in 2005
Libraries Unlimited, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
AMember of the Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.lu.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Dedicated to all teens on the fringes of technology
and the libraries who serve them,
with special appreciation to Jane Guttman
who exemplifies such service

CONTENTS
Series Foreword xi
Introduction xiii
Dimensions of Technology Equity xiv
The Library’s Role xvi
Fostering Digital Inclusion xvii
1 Laying the Groundwork 1
Qualities of Youth-Serving Librarians 2
Personal Qualities 2
Professional Qualities 3
Interactions with Teens 4
Qualities of Libraries Serving Teens 8
Libraries and Communities 11
Identifying Community Collaborators 11
Building Coalitions 12
Public Relations 14
Advocacy 16
Community Links 16
AWord of Caution 18
viii Contents
2 Teens in Need of Technology 21
Today’s Adolescents 22
Adolescent Development 24
Underserved Groups 28
Poor 29
Homeless 30
Teens of Color 31
African Americans/Blacks 31
Latinos 32
Native Americans 33
Immigrants 34
English Language Learners 36
Migrant Farmworkers 37
Rural and Isolated Populations 38
Gang Members 38
Incarcerated Youth 39
School Dropouts 39
Teenage Parents 40
Girls 41
The Disabled 41
Implications for Libraries 42
3 Technology and Life after High School: Education, Work,
Citizenship 47
Jobs/Employment 49
Information Literacy and Technology 50
Communications Technology 51
Programs for Careers and Technology 52
Further Education 54
Citizenship/Politics 56
Targeted Teens on the Fringes of the Future 58
Inner-City Youth 59
Girls 59
Teens with Disabilities 61
4 Perceptions of Technology 65
Common Misconceptions about Technology and Who
Has Them 66
Why Should Teens Care About Technology? 67
Getting the Word Out 69
The Big Picture 75
Contents ix
5 Physical Access to Technology 77
Home Access 78
Connectivity 80
The Other Access 83
The School Picture 85
Community Access Points 86
Libraries 89
Special Access Issues for People with Disabilities 90
Supporting Web Sites 94
6 Technical Access to Technology 97
What Is There to Learn? 98
How Do Teens Learn to Use Technology? 99
Instructional Issues 101
Venues for Learning 104
Referral Services 105
Training at the Library 105
Partnerships 106
Online Training 106
7 Intellectual Access to Technology 109
The Technology World 110
Information Literacy 110
Locating Information 111
Assessment 112
Searching for Information 112
Evaluating and Selecting Information 113
Using Information 115
Sharing and Acting on Information 116
Media Literacy 117
Information Literacy Web Sites 118
8 Digital Content for Teens 121
Relevant Content 122
Local Information 124
Education 125
Language Issues 127
Creating Content 129
9 Use of Technology by Teens 133
Development of Technology Use 134
Independent Technology Use 135
Teen Technology Use in Schools 137
x Contents
Service Learning 139
Best Practice 139
Teen Technology Use in Libraries 140
Teen Technology Use in Communities 143
10 ACall to Action 149
Procedures for Action 150
Best Practice 154
Your Turn 158
Bibliography 159
Index 173