Digital Storytelling by Shana Brooks-Schmit

Digital storytelling could be described as storytelling with different forms of multimedia included. Libraries use digital storytelling as a tool to help with literacy, writing skills and learning new technology. The main difference between storytelling and digital storytelling is that it is almost always told from the first person narrative. These can be imaginative stories, informative ones, tales of voyages and experiences or wherever your imagination leads you. Libraries and schools are implementing these techniques with students and patrons of all ages, introducing them to new ways to use software and combine different media for a final film of their story.

Author Jennifer Sturge (2020) likens digital storytelling to writing, saying it is the same process, "Students brainstorm, plan a story, create a rough draft, revise, edit, and publish their work. Given enough time in the term, students can even be assigned to critique each other’s stories and improve their own based on the reviews they have received. That’s where the interactive aspect comes in.". The process of creating a digital story is a one in which the students learn new skills and new multimedia technologies to enhance their stories. Wawro (2012) breaks down the steps for digital storytelling like this:

• Have the children write out the stories they wish to tell. 
• Record the children telling their stories. 
• Gather their images. 
• Arrange the images and audio in the editing software. 
• Throw in a little movie magic.
• Export the work to a movie file.

Students will also use different tools to add sound, music, and images to their stories and then film them and edit using iMovie for Mac or Windows Movie Maker for PC. There are also other free apps and paid apps available for use to create digital storytelling (see list below, Sturge, 2020). This interactive activity is another example of how libraries and reinventing themselves for the future.

FOR DIGITAL STORYTELLING (free and paid)

• Adobe Spark (spark.adobe.com) 
• Book Creator (bookcreator.com) 
• StoryCorps (storycorps.org) 
• StoryCorps Education (storycorps.org/discover/education) 
• StoryJumper (storyjumper.com) 
• Wixie (wixie.com) 
• Wixie Digital Storytelling (static.wixie.com/edu/digital-storytelling

References

Center for Arts-Inspired Learning. (2018, January 17). What is Digital Storytelling? [Video]. You Tube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5usc00wa40

Rule, L. (2010). DIGITAL STORYTELLING: Never Has Storytelling Been So Easy or So Powerful. Knowledge Quest, 38(4), 56–57.

Sturge, J. (2020). Digital Storytelling: Tips, Tools, and Resources. Computers in Libraries, 40(8), 32–36.

Wawro, L. (2012). Digital Storytelling. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 10(1), 50–52.

Virtual Reality in Libraries by Shana Brooks-Schmit

Before reading these articles on Virtual Reality in Libraries, I didn’t know much about either subject. Usually when I think of virtual reality, I think of video games, or maybe something close to the events in the Matrix films, but virtual reality has so many more applications than that and some of it is mind-blowing. Public, school and academic libraries are taking advantage of this new technology. The main piece of equipment they need to get started is a viewer, or VR headset; you can use the Oculus viewers, your smartphone or HTC Vive to name a few. To make content, you need a 360 degree camera to be able to create your virtual world or lessons. There is a lot of content available online like YouTube VR being one of them.

Virtual Reality is also an educational tool. The Virtual MLK project places you in some of Martin Luther King's most famous speeches like the, "White Rock Baptist Church, in Durham, North Carolina. It was February 16,1960—-just a couple of weeks after the famous Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-ins—and the civil rights leader was there to urge his supporters to further nonviolent action." (Ford, 2017). One of the remarks that I saw in both articles was how using VR can help students be more empathetic by experiencing something instead of just viewing it. There are so any possibilities with VR in libraries, as teaching tools, discovery of places and things, re-creations and video games.

Here is a list of some of the resources and the content they exist for VR. (Johnson, 2019)

• Google Expeditions (history, science, and the arts)
•  Discovery VR (people, places, and nature around the world) 
•  National Geographic 360 videos (science, exploration, adventure) 
•  Google Arts & Culture 360 videos (music, theater, visual arts, historic buildings, and more) 360Cities.net (cityscapes and countryside panoramas around the world)
•  Nearpod VR (lesson library includes VR content only by subscription, but in the free version educators can add weblinks to 360 images) 
•  YouVisit.com (U.S. cities and college campuses) 
•  Seeker VR (science, technology, culture) 
•  NASA.gov (science on Earth and in space) 
•  AirPano (natural wonders and human-created structures around the world)
•  News organizations such as ABC News VR, New York Times VR, CNN VR, Life VR, and PBS Video

References

Black Studios. (2020, May 29). VR Virtual Reality 360°: Monsters from the Deep. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXsNX_2AzM8&t=2s

Ford, A. (2017). Making Virtual Reality a Reality: NCSU Libraries offer top-notch simulation technology. American Libraries, 48(9/10), 20–21.

Johnson, J. (2019). Jumping into the World of Virtual and Augmented Reality. Knowledge Quest, 47(4), 22–27.

Presentation Tools by Shana Brooks-Schmit

 Presentation Tools

Librarians as well as patrons need to know the most effective ways to present information to colleagues, professors, classes, in person, and online. Up until recently most people paid for tools in the Microsoft suite like Power Point. Today there are tools available for free online that can be used to give effective and persuasive presentations. Below you will find a list of the different software available to present information. Each entry includes information for the advantages and disadvantages of each program as well as what it is best used for. This is not an exhaustive list, but it lays out the different programs so that it easier to understand. 

Other tools can be better used when conducting presentations live online. Some of the tools available are Join.me which can share screens between both Mac and PC users. Big Marker which can be used both publicly and privately, it allows screen share and has a whiteboard, a useful tool for tutoring. Vyew also has a whiteboard, "offers tools for sharing and discussing content with others. Upload slides or documents and annotate and discuss with other participants in your Vyew room," (Byrne, 2011). Scribbler is another presentation tool that allows, "real-time collaboration" (Byrne.2011) and provides a whiteboard. Zipcast is the last and can be accessed through the website Slideshare. This website can be used privately or publicly also and is done in real time with presentations and interactions with the audience. This list is not exhaustive, there are many more tools not presented, but this gives you a small introduction. than this short list

Presentation Software	Best For...	Advantages	Disadvantages
PowerPoint, Google Slides and KeyNote (Mac use only)	Presentation slides both in person and online	Most familiar format with user and audience, templates, embed media	Oversimplifies a topic, and limits preparation.  KeyNote is only for Mac devices
Beautiful.ai	Quick and easy presentation slide development	Templates, library of images, adaptive layout design, can download to a pdf	Limited amount of background templates for free account
Prezi	Alternative to standard slideshow due to non linear and zooming feature, presentation in person and online	Present on multiple devices, shareable, templates, embed media	Can only use templates, can cause a dizzy effect with motion and zooming of slides
Canva	Presentations, banners and posters, inforgraphics, cards	Easy to use, many custom design elements	Can be time consuming to design
Genially	Interactive presentations, visual media, infographics.	Easy to use, can create custom media to embed in websites or blogs	Best for online presenting because of interactive features
Adobe Spark	Social graphics, web pages, videos, interactive stories	Easy to use, web and mobile	Best for online presenting, video creation limit of 30 seconds
Piktochart	Infographics	Easy to use, many custom design elements	Can be time consuming to design

Wilmington University Library. (2020, June). Presentation tools, tips and techniques guide. https://libguides.wilmu.edu/presentations

[Revised by M. Jones: June, 2020]

Byrne, R. (2011). The Best Online Presentation Tools. School Library Journal, 57(8), 12.

Adding the Widget "Back to Top"--Kathy Meengs

 Well, this was a learning experience! I chose the "Back to Top" button because although it's fairly pedestrian, I thought it would be useful. When I was customizing the widget in Elfsight, I chose the location of "bottom right," because that seemed the most logical place. I didn't realize until it was too late that the button is placed on top of the bookcase 'wallpaper' and is hardly visible. I tried to re-do it, but I was only allowed the one widget, so there it sits. Like a little ghost button. But it works!

😏

Libraries in the Digital Age by Shana Brooks-Schmit

 Libraries in the digital age

The library at Saint Catherine’s Monastery located at the foot of the legendary Mount Sinai, is the oldest continually operating library in the world. The monastery itself is also considered one of the oldest functioning Christian monasteries in the world and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wikimedia Commons

I have heard people say that libraries are finished, that they are obsolete, or that they no longer serve a useful purpose. Libraries have existed for almost  four millenia, with the archives contained in the Sumer tablets of around 2400 BCE to the eBooks of today. Libraries have centuries of experience reinventing themselves and adapting to new and emerging technologies. The medium for expressing the written word has evolved over this time and libraries have always figured out a way to embrace these new developments but change their missions at the same time. 

In order to keep up with these technologies, “Libraries”,  according to Dumon (2015), 

“that reimagine their role, space, and purpose can lead change instead of succumbing to change.” This is how libraries that are innovating for the future function. They’re building networks with other libraries, marketing themselves using multiple forms of media, and keeping up with the times. Berry says the best way to achieve this is for libraries to, “Revise their mission, materials, and services to help all citizens—from the very young to seniors—get a handle on the latest information technologies, the new health-care system, and fresh ways to learn, parent, and teach.” (Berry, 2015). He continues to say that libraries need to offer, “activities and services that help master issues at work or school and address life’s challenges.” (Berry, 2015).

Engaging patrons to participate in the library by offering ways for them to engage in the community and learn new technologies. Maker spaces are a great way to introduce new technologies to patrons and allow them a hands on approach with things like video editing and 3D printers. As a result of the pandemic, libraries have found new and more innovative ways to offer their services and books to the public when they can’t visit in person. Libraries continue to evolve to face the challenges that new technologies and concerns offer and will be fine reinventing themselves for the digital age.

John N. Berry III. (2015). Watching the Future. Library Journal, 140(4), 10.

DUMON, O. (2015). Rebranding Libraries for the Digital Age. Information Today, 32(6), 18.

Leading article: Public libraries: Losing the plot. (2014, August 26). Guardian [London, England], 28. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A379950781/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=2d02e3ff

Libraries evolving to meet needs. (2016, August 13). Age [Melbourne, Australia], 31. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A460514109/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=e18e8659

Weduwen, A. D., & Pettegree, A. (2021, October 19). Libraries will survive in a digital age. Here's why. Washington Post, NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A679476456/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=d70efda0

Libraries in the Digital Age: Let's Embrace Access! by Kathy Meengs

 

Libraries in the Digital Age: Let’s Embrace Access! By Kathy Meengs

 

We throw these terms around so much, ‘digital age’ or ‘information age,’ but what exactly do we mean? Definitions abound, but most center around the ideas of large amounts of information being available on a widescale basis, greatly due to the internet and information and communication technology advancements. So, what does this mean for libraries, and specifically for presentation in libraries?

While some may wring their hands over the thought of a ‘digital library,’ it’s hard to argue with the great boon to access digitizing provides. Scholars, authors, and everyday enthusiasts can access some of the greatest world collections without leaving their room. Those who live in remote areas or have transportation or mobility issues can ‘use’ the library. The Digital Library Federation (DLF) (www.diglib.org) states its mission as “advance research, learning, social justice and the public good through the creative design and wise application of digital library technologies.” This mission is admirable and lofty, but don’t let it make you think of the DLF as just a bunch of do-gooder dreamers. They are about “getting stuff done.” The move to digitize collections could be a chaotic wild, wild west of varying practices, formats and more. The DLF is working to prevent that by creating digital library standards and best practices and standing ready to support any and all libraries.

As we work to provide more digital services and collections to our patrons, we need to make sure that our guidance and instruction keeps pace. The learning tools we present on our websites need to be effective, or this great step towards broader information access is all for naught. Librarian Kristen Cinar believes we should be using videos to engage our visitors and advises “creating a better viewing experience brings you one small step closer to reaching your target audience and earning their interest. Only then can you maximize learning potential” (15).  

Elements of the digital library are here to stay, whether it be ‘checking out’ an e-book or browsing historic photos online. ‘Real’ books are not going away anytime soon, but for the tremendous increase in access that the digital library provides, we all should embrace this advance. It is our job as library staff to help all users navigate these offerings.

Work Cited:

Cinar, Kristen. “IT’S A WRAP!: Tips for Producing Engaging Videos.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 41, no. 7, July 2021, pp. 11–15. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=151204055&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Presentation Tools in the Libraries: What should I use??? by Kathy Meengs

Presentation Tools in Libraries: What should I use??? By Kathy Meengs

In the world of libraries, we can make all kinds of presentations: we can present to a hall full of colleagues, a classroom of elementary school students, or a small book discussion group. We can present in person, or remotely, where we look to the digital presentation we’ve created to stand on its own. Regardless of the delivery dynamic, we need to make these presentations effective, crisp, and engaging. Part of that success will depend on the presentation tools we use.

A quick review of the latest ‘best of’ lists for presentation software shows there’s no shortage of choices, as well as opinions. Of course there is the old workhorse PowerPoint, but we also have Google Slides, Prezi, Visme, Canva, Haiku Deck and more. While it is worthwhile to acquaint oneself with the options (here are two recent articles assess the options; note that one of them is a blog from Visme, so there might be some bias there: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/presentation-software and https://visme.co/blog/best-presentation-software/), time is valuable, and constantly changing presentation software might not be worth it. The tools you choose need to be user-friendly and effective, but also compatible in look and function. And while no one is looking to make work, your library website must continue to look current. According to Unrein, a library website that looks outdated will turn off users, especially younger users, and make visitors question the usefulness and relevance of your library (8).

So, which presentation tool you use is important, but how you use it is more important. Software is constantly expanding and changing, so the perfect choice you made eight years ago may no longer fit, but if it’s a dynamic and responsive tool, you should be able to keep your presentations looking fresh and current without having to re-do.

 

Work cited:

Unrein, Sabrina. (2019). “What Makes a Good Library Website?” Syracuse, NY: iSchool Public Libraries Initiative at Syracuse University