The Human Connection

Every day I get a question about downloading e-books; none of the questions are related to what the whole idea of e-books are, but rather — instruction on how to get them on a device. This proves the theory that” libraries may be going digital, but librarians still bring and need that personal touch,” explains Lauren Barack, author of The Human Connection (Barack, 2015). One key note to take from Barack’s article is that, during the Digital Shift: Libraries Connecting Communities conference, is that humans are still needed (Barack, 2015). Lauren emphasizes that, “the role of the librarian as a teacher, guide and lamplighter, even in the digital age, was echoed by speakers across multiple sessions (during the conference)” (Barack, 2015). Today, it is important to know that, the library is no longer a source of physical materials, but now a collaborative learning space.

Barack suggests that librarian’s take a leap with patrons; come up with a program to launch, and proceed to implement their own digital events. For example, at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, both students and librarians have discovered how much fun program coding can be (Barack, 2015). The librarians that ran the event did not have any previous experience coding with computers; working with the students, and learning with them, has led to a successful experience in the library for both the patron and the librarian. Furthermore, libraries should keep their humanistic approach in libraries — which is needed. Don’t dwell away from the digital shift, rather work with it, and become the place that tries new things, and teach your patrons along the way; this will help make a digital shift transition, smoother.

Reference:

Barack, L. (2015, November 5). The Human Connection: The Digital Shift 2015. Retrieved from Library Journal: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/11/library-services/the-human-connection-the-digital-shift-2015/