This book is designed for all librarians and educators who work with all age levels. It combines theory and practice in a comprehensive guide that provides the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance teaching and learning through games. Features include visual examples, instructional models, and handouts.
Games can seem to do the impossible: reach patrons and drive traffic to projects and services. But how can libraries use gamification and game elements to improve instruction and outreach, or to encourage the use of particular areas and services? In this guide, readers will learn about how to structure game activities in order to best reach their patrons. Chapters devoted to topics such as personalization, goal setting, working with partners, games in instruction, and assessment illustrate some of the many ways games can have an impact in libraries. Everything in this book is presented from a practical point of view – email templates, real-life examples, and scenarios are included. Games have a lot of potential for use in many different library services, and this book will help you decide how they might work best for you. From the first seeds of a project’s beginning to its eventual maturation, this book will help you develop, implement, and evaluate game-style projects at your library.
How to Teach: A Practical Guide for Librarians is designed for librarians and other educators who must instruct library patrons on subjects ranging from research skills to understanding and using electronic tools to providing self-paced instruction. This book provides public, academic, school, and special librarians with practical applications based on theoretical approaches to adult learning; instructional design principles to help them plan, deliver, and assess learning; examples and model lessons illustrating face-to-face instruction and online training; and descriptions and step-by-step instructions showing them how to create self-paced materials to complement their teaching. Ready-to-use, customizable worksheets; handouts; and evaluation forms serve as models. Exercises in each chapter reinforce its content. URLs identify additional ideas and materials from librarian colleagues to enhance teaching.
Designed for experienced librarians, librarians new to the profession, and library school students, OnlineTeaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides a comprehensive framework that encompasses all aspects of planning, designing, creating, implementing, and assessing online learning for all types of libraries, including public, academic, special, and K-12. It also provides a valuable guide for teachers, administrators, and other educators. Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians features three main sections: Section I: Theory into Practice forms the basis in theory of learning that ultimately influences practice. It includes definition, importance in today’s society, benefits and challenges, and categories and types of online learning with examples to illustrate each. Section II: Creating Online Instruction explores how to create an online course--describing components and stepping through the process using a model on the topic of information literacy. Design and instructional tips for creating other types of online instruction are also given. Section III: Practical Applications provides examples of different types of online instruction and materials in all types of libraries. Then, step-by-step detail explains how librarians can create this type of instruction and/or learning materials on their own. Included are worksheets, handouts, and exercises. Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians puts it all together to provide what the library must consider as it prepares for this new challenge and opportunity. It provides a comprehensive guide instructing online programs how to employ library services as part of their program. It is also designed to instruct librarians to incorporate the skills necessary to build a virtual library environment and teach the skills required to meet the needs of online learners. As the educational landscape changes with blended and online learning taking center stage, new and established librarians need a guide to inform them of skills they will need and show them how to create the resources for their new online audience.
Public libraries must offer relevant, exciting, and stimulating learning centers that appeal to kids. This book is a step-by-step guide for creating affordable and effective educational programs for children and youth by focusing on one simple concept: play. With the standards of education rising every year and current technology making all types of information widely available to anyone with an Internet connection, libraries need to stay relevant by constantly evolving. One important way to strengthen a public library's identity as an irreplaceable resource is to make it an exciting and stimulating learning center that appeals to children and youth. This book demonstrates how to transform the informal setting of a public library into a place where "play" in the guise of game-based learning becomes a natural and exciting process for children and young students. It also shows readers how to incorporate existing programs such as the makerspace, storytime, and book clubs to play to their strengths; more effectively utilize the tools and resources they have; and transform their libraries. The first two chapters explain why learning through play and exploration isn't only for early childhood development, identifies the key differences between free play and structured play, and addresses why libraries are the perfect setting for learning. Next, the author draws on her experience in children's librarianship and as a children's book author to describe methods to listen to (and understand) children, manage organized chaos, and gain the children's trust. Additional chapters explain how to write weekly or daily lesson plans, how to brainstorm supporting activities to reinforce concepts being taught, and how to infuse STEM and literacy objectives into daily lessons. The book closes with suggestions on marketing and promotion, ways to support the classroom, and strategies that will "keep 'em coming back" and build an enthusiastic customer base.
Join librarian and lifelong gamer Tom Bruno on his quest to bring gaming to his library community, from bringing back classic board games such as Fireball Island to offering free play in the latest virtual reality games using the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive! Gaming Programs for All Ages at the Library shows you how you can launch and support gaming programming in your library, including: how to make the case for library gaming with your administration, how to acquire and loan gaming materials (whether or not you have the budget for them!), how to publicize your library gaming programming, and how to incorporate other library units into the gaming experience. Everything from acquisitions to budgeting to circulation is covered in this practical guide --- you’ll also learn about promotion, assessment, and experiential learning opportunities
This book provides in-depth practical advice and examples of public and academic library programming activities. Included in this volume are methods for identifying target audiences, activities and ways to find and generate even more ideas, tools for assessment and budgeting, and tips on planning programs from inception to execution.
Designed for librarians who work with all age levels from youngsters to seniors at all educational, reading and language backgrounds, who must fulfill responsibilities that run the gamut from instructing patrons on information literacy skills to using electronic tools to marketing the library to locating funding, Infographics: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides librarians with the following: Section I: Infographics 101 contains definitions, history, importance in today’s society, types and examples, advantages and disadvantages, general uses, uses in libraries, tools for creation and design tips. Section II: Practical applications show how to use infographics in academic, public, special and school libraries. Included are visual examples and step-by-step instructions to create two infographics Included in each section are exercises, tables with URLs to more ideas and materials and references. This practical guide will help every type and size of library use infographics as a powerful part in their 21st century game plan. Whether it's marketing the public library, improving students information literacy skills in a school library or showcasing the accomplishments of the academic library, infographics can be a vital part of the library's playbook. The book describes ways to use infographics to: raise funds for a public library teach critical thinking and 21st century skills in the school library illustrate why libraries matter by relaying value of academic libraries market the library improve information literacy in academic settings advocate for resources and services.
Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians also includes useful case studies, interviews, descriptions of equipment and new technologies, and models for planning, marketing, and assessing projects.
People tend to consider a “librarian” to be someone who works in a library. However, a professional librarian who is empowered with a good understanding of his or her capabilities and library resources can become a strong knowledge partner for organizations beyond the library walls. Embedded librarians build collaborative relationships outside of libraries, tailoring services to resolve problems and fulfill information needs. Librarians who are embedded into organizations make an impact within the essential activities of these groups. Successful embedded librarian programs create great relationships between organizations and libraries that develop strong library advocacy support in communities. Embedded librarianship is not limited to academic librarians who regularly guest-lecture or are integrated into courses. An embedded librarian may work as an essential and transformative partner in any working group of people. Most librarians are aware of the benefits of embedded librarianship but need help in getting started. Embedded and Empowered: A Practical Guide for Librarians offers library professionals from all types of libraries a plan for success in creating successful embedded partnerships by providing easy-to-follow instructions, tips, and exercises to: Understand trends in embedded librarianship as well as why specific programs are successful Analyze the needs of the stakeholder community and librarian professional skill sets Develop a plan of action to create and design an embedded librarian initiative Learn techniques and specific scenarios that work with different personalities and groups Implement, manage, maintain, and evaluate the progress of an embedded program Evaluate and recommend technology tools for embedded communities
