Submission Type

Paper Abstract Submission

Symposium Selection

A “new normal” agenda in a COVID-affected world

Keywords

education, library and information science, literacies, health, technology, teaching, civics, cultural heritage

Abstract

Proposal Abstract: A New Normal Agenda in a COVID-Affected World

During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries became a vital community support hub for information and broadband access. In March 2020 as K-12 schools and universities shifted to all-online classes, librarians taught people to use technologies, provided wireless hubs for classes and homework to those lacking home broadband digital access, and offered distance education test proctoring as well as online books, articles and databases. People sought information about sewing masks and making homemade hand sanitizer, and some library makerspaces 3-D printed face shields. Libraries partnered in health efforts to distribute free masks, lunches for kids, and even "seed libraries" giving free vegetable seeds to families to grow their own food.

These examples and others such as librarians teaching job search for the unemployed, providing cooling or warming centers in weather emergencies, and helping people access state, federal and local government services show libraries increasingly playing larger roles in communities. Beyond reading literacy, libraries have expanded to health, emergency preparedness, technology, science, civics, teaching, and community cultural heritage. This paper therefore proposes eight new literacies for LIS education to better support future generations of librarians.

Eight Basic Literacies for Librarians: A New Normal Agenda for Librarianship Education

Here are the eight new basic literacies this paper proposes for LIS education to better prepare librarians for a COVID-affected world:

1. Basic health literacy - all librarians should be educated in health and medical literacy, to better understand health information for themselves, their families, and their community.

2. Basic technology literacy - as COVID-19 lockdowns demonstrated, technology expertise is essential. Computer conferencing, web and social media, and even 3D printers became game changers in a world of sudden scarcity.

3. Basic science literacy - During the pandemic, lives were endangered by misinformation and disinformation presented as science. Science literacy would help librarians design assessments, support STEM education, and teach the public to better understand science.

4. Basic civics literacy - civics basics would help librarians teach the public about elections, voting rights, running for office, legislative processes, courts, agencies, the Census and representation -- issues greatly impacting libraries, communities, states, and the nation.

5. Basic teaching literacy - many librarians have had little training in teaching. Basic teaching literacy would help librarians design and deliver effective classes, workshops, programs, and educational videos.

6. Basic cultural heritage literacy - every community has a local history. Cultural heritage literacy would help librarians conduct photographic and digital oral history efforts to preserve the legacies, names, culture and voices of people who might otherwise vanish from the historical record.

7. Basic financial literacy – librarians often learn on the job to manage budgets and negotiate vendor contracts. Financial literacy training would help librarians in grant-writing, advocacy, and managing budgets for libraries.

8. Basic emergency services literacy - many librarians must face emergencies including wildfires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and pandemics. Emergency services literacy would help librarians be better prepared for climate changes, and better able to safeguard the library and community.

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Eight Basic Literacies for Librarians: A New Normal Agenda for Librarianship Education

Proposal Abstract: A New Normal Agenda in a COVID-Affected World

During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries became a vital community support hub for information and broadband access. In March 2020 as K-12 schools and universities shifted to all-online classes, librarians taught people to use technologies, provided wireless hubs for classes and homework to those lacking home broadband digital access, and offered distance education test proctoring as well as online books, articles and databases. People sought information about sewing masks and making homemade hand sanitizer, and some library makerspaces 3-D printed face shields. Libraries partnered in health efforts to distribute free masks, lunches for kids, and even "seed libraries" giving free vegetable seeds to families to grow their own food.

These examples and others such as librarians teaching job search for the unemployed, providing cooling or warming centers in weather emergencies, and helping people access state, federal and local government services show libraries increasingly playing larger roles in communities. Beyond reading literacy, libraries have expanded to health, emergency preparedness, technology, science, civics, teaching, and community cultural heritage. This paper therefore proposes eight new literacies for LIS education to better support future generations of librarians.

Eight Basic Literacies for Librarians: A New Normal Agenda for Librarianship Education

Here are the eight new basic literacies this paper proposes for LIS education to better prepare librarians for a COVID-affected world:

1. Basic health literacy - all librarians should be educated in health and medical literacy, to better understand health information for themselves, their families, and their community.

2. Basic technology literacy - as COVID-19 lockdowns demonstrated, technology expertise is essential. Computer conferencing, web and social media, and even 3D printers became game changers in a world of sudden scarcity.

3. Basic science literacy - During the pandemic, lives were endangered by misinformation and disinformation presented as science. Science literacy would help librarians design assessments, support STEM education, and teach the public to better understand science.

4. Basic civics literacy - civics basics would help librarians teach the public about elections, voting rights, running for office, legislative processes, courts, agencies, the Census and representation -- issues greatly impacting libraries, communities, states, and the nation.

5. Basic teaching literacy - many librarians have had little training in teaching. Basic teaching literacy would help librarians design and deliver effective classes, workshops, programs, and educational videos.

6. Basic cultural heritage literacy - every community has a local history. Cultural heritage literacy would help librarians conduct photographic and digital oral history efforts to preserve the legacies, names, culture and voices of people who might otherwise vanish from the historical record.

7. Basic financial literacy – librarians often learn on the job to manage budgets and negotiate vendor contracts. Financial literacy training would help librarians in grant-writing, advocacy, and managing budgets for libraries.

8. Basic emergency services literacy - many librarians must face emergencies including wildfires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and pandemics. Emergency services literacy would help librarians be better prepared for climate changes, and better able to safeguard the library and community.