Recent articles I have been seeing over the past few months have prompted me to think a lot about this week’s BB Post on looking to the future of media literacy and technology. In my BB Post on this topic I discussed how one challenge I can see with emerging technology and media tools is simply trying to keep up and stay on top of the latest trends. New tools and tech trends are constantly emerging, and keeping up with the volume of tools, gadgets, programs, and so on is a tough task. How do we decide which trends are the best to focus on? Which will benefit our students and patrons the most? Which ones are worth putting our time and energy into? However, another challenge we are facing right now with media literacy and technology is where to get the funding to keep technology up to date and media literacy programs going.
On a weekly basis I see headlines stating that library budgets are being cut, that schools don’t have the funding to buy new materials for their libraries, or that school librarian positions are being cut. Just this morning I read an article about a school district in Portland Oregon that is letting go of 25 of their 50 school librarians in order to cut 26 million dollars from its budget. (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/890421-312/beaverton__or_schools_may.html.csp)
With school districts and libraries struggling with budget issues around the country, how on earth are library professionals supposed to keep up with technology trends and make sure they are preparing their students for a more and more heavily media driven world? Media literacy is a top priority right now in school curriculums. It is imperative that schools are instructing their students in technology and media tools so that they will have the competencies needed to function in a professional world that is becoming more focused and reliant on technology and media. However, how are we supposed to accomplish this when we don’t have the funding, tools, or even professionals to pass on these skills and knowledge?
School Library Journal’s 2011 Technology Survey shows that while school librarians are positive about technology and the future, many admit that their schools are behind when it comes to technology. Obstacles such as “poor funding, lack of time, and unsupportive administrators,” are keeping them from staying on top of media literacy and technology. For instance, while ebooks in school libraries are growing, 63 % of librarians surveyed report that their libraries cannot afford ereader devices. The survey responses show that most school librarians are excited about ereaders and ebooks, and would love to try them out in their libraries, but they just do not have the funding to do so. With schools facing drastic budget cuts, library funds are one of the first to go. (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/890197-312/sljs_2011_technology_survey_things.html.csp)
On March 3rd, 2011, Brian Kenney responded to the SLJ 2011 Tech Survey with an article stating that the survey “reveals vast inequities in our nation’s libraries.” (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/890155-427/story.csp) In the survey some schools reported being “cutting edge” and “up to date” with technology, however, Kenney explains that these schools are “more the exception than the rule.” Kenney says the survey results pinpointed three major themes schools face in relation to technology and media literacy. The first is what he calls the “digital divide.” Many urban and rural schools do not have the funding to incorporate technology into their school, and very few of their students have access to computers and technology at home as well. Because of this students are not being exposed to technology, and most are not media literate. Kenney goes on to say that “the only federal program that helps alleviate some of this inequity, Improving Literacy Through School Libraries, won’t be funded in FY2011—for the first time in a decade.”
The second theme Kenney saw emerging from the survey is a “digital slide.” Schools in the digital slide have access to technology, but it is out of date, and due to funding issues may not be replaced for some time. Teachers in this category report that while their school was once up to date with technology and media literacy, budget cuts have kept them from keeping up with emerging tools and technology. These teachers explain that because the resources and tools they have are out of date, they are not able to use them for teaching.
The last theme Kenney discusses is the “digital tide.” This is when classrooms are technologically up to date and have the latest tools and programs, however the budget has not allowed the library to be updated as well. In the SLJ survey, many schools reported that any funding available is delegated to classroom use first, leaving the library with little money to work with. Because of this it is difficult for school libraries to meet media literacy standards.
Kenney states that “underfunding technology doesn’t make it harder for librarians to do their jobs—it makes it impossible.” When schools are not able to stay up to date with technology, they are not able to teach students information and media literacy skills, which are now heavily focused on learning standards across the country. The American Association of School Librarians’ Standards for the 21st-Century Learner are centered around technology, media, and information literacy. (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf) The AASL Standards state that “ technology skills are crucial for future employment needs. Today’s students need to develop information skills that will enable them to use technology as an important tool for learning, both now and in the future.” In addition, the AASL Standards stress that all students should have equitable access to information and information technology, however, as the SLJ survey points out, this is not happening. With budget cuts and funding issues students educational needs are not being met and curriculum standards are not being adhered to.
Why is it that when the budget gets rocky the library is the first thing to take a hit? As the AASL Standards point out, the School Library Media Center is where so many of todays curriculum standards should be addressed and met, so why are are school libraries lacking materials and tools, and why are our Media Specialist the first to be cut? If we want to make media and information literacy a priority, and want our students to be prepared for their future, we need to put more focus on school libraries and keeping them equiped and up to date to meet student needs. As we have discussed in class, technology isn’t going anywhere, if anything it is coming more rapidly than ever, so we need to prepare our school libraries and professionals in order to provide our students with the best opportunities we can.
Kenney, Brian. “SLJ’s 2011 Technology Survey: Things are Changing. Fast.” School Library Journal. May 1, 2011. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/890197-427/sljs_2011_technology_survey_things.html.csp
Kenney, Brian. “Not Just the Lucky Ones.” School Library Journal. May 1, 2011.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/890155-427/story.csp
American Association of School Librarians. “Standards for the 21st- Century Learner.”
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