Wapahani LibraryThe Media center and learning center of the

21st century.

A librarian loves to read but this is no longer the only job he/she has.

They remove barriers and don’t judge the patrons’ interests. They connect the students to information, whether by books or online. Librarians/media managers are not afraid of technology and ensure the students are also comfortable. They can even create networks for discussion. (Kwok,2007)

Libraries have changed!In the past you were told to be quiet!

Students are now encouraged to work together. Libraries are not the silent zones of the past.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”—Charles Darwin

Students need a place to go to do research. Current and new forms of electronic information are fundamentally changing the way people produce, access, and process information. (Hendrix,2010) Students will also need a place to research information for their future. Where will they go after high school? Being able to access information helps provide the students with more options.

How are libraries being used?

Research in 2010 showed how public libraries are being used. We can provide this information to our students. Without a public library for these students to turn to, who will help? We will! Don’t let these students get behind or feel left out in this digital age.

(OCLC,2011)

Every day 300,000 Americans get job-seeking help.

U.S. public libraries offer free technology classes.

Most public libraries provide free wireless Internet access for their users.

Every year, Americans visit the library more often than we go to the movies and six times more often than we attend live sporting events.

2.8 million times every month business owners use resources at the library to help with their small business.

Students in high school do research every month.

We need to be able to give them the support they need. Looking up information can be daunting. What is even more scary is citing their sources. These students need to be prepared and with the help of the media manager/librarian they can get the help they need. Help them remain calm by giving them the help they need and deserve.

(Hendrix,2010)

Vast amounts of new content are beingcreated solely in the virtual world—“born digital”—each day without ever being committed to physical form.

Existing information has been converted to electronic form and made

available online.E-books, living books, or

networked books.Traditional paper books

are no longer the norm.

Digital learners will “read” multimedia information as text and image.

Literacy will include the ability to multitask, to navigate through different streams of information in addition to processing text.

We need to ensure that the library/media center is a comfortable place where everyone feels welcome.No one has a problem jumping onto Google and looking up information. No one should be scared to look up information at our library either! We provide ports/outlets for students to plug into the internet. We also offer quiet areas and areas for groups (not so quiet). Come in and take a seat!

(Hendrix, 2011)

The library of thefuture can remainboth a portal anda destination forinformation seekers,whether they accessthe information via ahandheld computingdevice or the frontdoor of their library.

Many suspect that while mobile computing, networked materials, digital research processes, and other new technologies will dramatically alter certain library services, there will still be a need for books, shelves, tables and chairs, light and solitude, and community space. (Hendrix,2011) The future of libraries is magnificent and never ending!

References: Hendrix, J. (2010, Feb). Checking out the future. Retrieved from

www.ala.org/offices/sites/ala.org.offices/files/content/oitp/publications/policybriefs/alacheckingoutthe.pdf

Kwok, I. (2007, May 07). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.blogginglibrarian.com/2007/05/02/traits-for-the-21st-century-librarian/

OCLC. (2011). How libraries stack up:2010. doi: Online Computer Library Center. http://www.oclc.org/reports/pdfs/214109usfhowlibrariesstackup.pdf?utmsource=WhatCountsEmail&utmmedium=OCLC+Abstracts&utmcampaign=OCLC+Abstracts