TASCHA goes to Next Library 2017
Some members of the TASCHA team will be visiting Denmark June 11-14 to participate in the Next Library conference, an event intended to explore the continuously evolving nature of the public library in the 21st century. TASCHA Director Chris Coward and Assistant Director Rebecca Sears will be leading an interactive session and an ignite talk focusing on TASCHA’s work in the library field. The TASCHA team members will be among 1,100 library leaders and innovators from around the globe represented at the conference.
Chris will facilitate the “Beyond Digital Literacy” session, exploring how libraries can create peer learning environments to support new literacies development. Co-facilitated with representatives from Mozilla, P2PU, the Chicago Public Library, and the UW iSchool, this session will center on digital skills, like web literacy, data literacy, mobile literacy, and computational thinking, that people need to thrive in today’s world. All of which are being learned in engaging, interactive, peer-to-peer formats. Chris and the other facilitators invite people to learn about these different skills and learning programs, and participate in group exercises designed to explore ways libraries can introduce such programs. The session features examples from libraries that have hosted: Mozilla Clubs (in-person peer-supported learning to teach, protect and build the open web), Learning Circles (peer-led study groups for learners who want to take online courses together and in-person developed by P2PU), mobile literacy (learning and engaging the internet for smartphone-centric users), and Library Kids Team (co-designing new technologies and learning activities for children, with children, developed at the University of Washington Information School).
The ignite talk hosted by Rebecca will explore the Legacy Partnership, a long-term strategic partnership between TASCHA, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), and Public Library Association (PLA). This partnership is working collectively to ensure libraries are aligned with community goals, are recognized as engines of development, and funded as key community assets. In this talk, TASCHA, IFLA, and PLA will discuss the unique experience of collaboration between the organizations and how the partnership is focusing on libraries worldwide becoming critical centers of learning, creativity, and community development. The talk will explore key partnership dimensions including the partnership vision, collaboration in practice, and field focus and benefits.
Follow along on social with hashtag #nextlibrary2017, more information at http://www.nextlibrary.net/.
