Learning Lab: Nashville Public Library

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Studio conceptual drawingsThis post is part of a series where the YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Today we will read about a Learning Lab with the Nashville Public Library, TN (http://www.library.nashville.org) from Tari Hughes, President of the Nashville Public Library Foundation, tari.hughes@nashville.gov, and Elyse Adler, Associate Director for Community Engagement at the Nashville Public Library, Elyse.Adler@nashville.gov. Read More →

Learning Lab: Anythink Wright Farms, CO

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

AnythinkToday we will read about a Learning Lab with Anythink Wright Farms branch in CO from Mo Yang, Studio Guide. Read More →

Learning Lab: Kansas City Public Library and Science City at Union Station

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in “mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Yashiwa Plays_Kansas CityToday we will listen to a conversation about the Learning Lab with Kansas City Public Library, MO in partnership with Science City at Union Station from Andrea Ellis, Learning Lab Project Coordinator.

Some of the highlights of this podcast include:
• Kansas City having over 34,000 digital storytelling jobs and a 7% increase in STEM related careers
• Using a Mad Libs format to elicit feedback and ‘buzzwords’ from teens helping plan the space and activities
• How a mobile component of the Learning Lab would work in the library
• Drawing on the professional community to continue to grow the program
• How prototyping and testing with teens and mentors really made the whole planning of the project all the more exciting
• How adult and youth relationships change through embracing HOMAGO

Kansas City Public Library podcast

Learning Lab: Rochester Public Library

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in “mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Video Game CreationToday we will listen to a conversation about the Rochester Public Library Learning Lab, imagineYOU @ Teen Central from Tonia Burton, Youth Services Consultant.

Some of the highlights of this podcast include:

  • Partnering with the Rochester Teen Film Festival
  • Looking at the big picture which always circles back to what the teens want
  •  How Librarians and non-Librarians (artists/mentors) can work together
  • Igniting all staff with the project
  • Getting teen interest in the HOMAGO experience
  • Adhering to the structure of “making BIG mistakes”
  • What cooking classes have to do with digital media

Rochester Public Library podcast

Learning Lab: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in “mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Carnegie Library
Today, we will listen to a conversation from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Learning Lab in PA with Corey Wittig, Program Manager The Labs @ CLP.

Some of the highlights of this podcast include:

• How their Learning Lab is able to serve the entire system through an artist-in-residence program
• How the Teen Media ‘Labsy’ Awards motivate and acknowledge teens’ creative work
• Grants with the Heinz Endowments, Sprout Fund and Grable Foundation
• Using the skills the teens learn at the library to work in the community through the Hive Learning Network
• Extending the Learning Lab concept as an outreach offering to local schools

Podcast

YALSAblog Tweets of the Week – January 3, 2014

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A weekly short list of tweets that librarians and the teens that they serve may find interesting.

Do you have a favorite Tweet from the past week? If so add it in the comments for this post. Or, if you read a Twitter post between January 3 and January 9 that you think is a must for the next Tweets of the Week send a direct or @ message to lbraun2000 on Twitter.
Read More →

Learning Lab: Science Museum of Virginia

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Science Museum of Virginia logoToday we will read about a Learning Lab with the Science Museum of Virginia (http://www.smv.org/) from Chuck English, Director of Playful Learning and Inquiry, and Matt Baker, Outreach Education Coordinator. Read More →

Digital Marketing Trends for 2014

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Three-Digital-Marketing-Trends-1024x302My library recently formed a ‘3.0 team’ to help create and curate content for our current social networking sites, as well as bring information to the table for using on other or additional sites. In our monthly online meeting, the facilitator shared this article, Three Digital Marketing Trends for 2014 and Beyond. While the article isn’t only focused on teens or libraries for that matter, each trend seems applicable to both. Read More →

New Year’s Resolution: Getting to Know Fellow YA Librarians

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I don’t know about you, but I love the days when I get to hang out with youth services librarians and talk shop. I’m pretty shy, so it’s hard for me to get to know people. At conferences and hanging out on Twitter, I’ve heard/read remarks about librarians wanting to get to know each other. But it can be hard when we’re so spread out. I’m lucky if I get to see some of my fellow Connecticut librarians once or twice a year. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all knew each other?

So I came up with this idea – that we should get to know one new person a month. I created this questionnaire – it’s pretty short, with just 10 questions. Take a look here and fill it out.

And help us get the word out so we can meet more of our people!

Learning Lab: Madison Children’s Museum

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This post is part of a series where YALSAblog takes a closer look at Learning Lab grantees from museums and libraries to learn how they engage middle and high school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media.” To read more about the context of the Learning Labs, visit the first post in the series here.

Today we will read about a Learning Lab with the Madison Children’s Museum from Erin Hoag, Local Treasures Coordinator.

KC: If you have named your Learning Lab, can you share what you are calling it?
EH: The working title is KidShare but that will be changing due to its unpopularity with our audience.

KC: What is the target age for your Learning Lab?
EH: Originally the target age group was middle school youth but we have since reevaluated and any on-site offerings will be geared towards our current audience (12-year-olds and younger). We may still pursue the mobile route with middle school students.

KC: What makes your Learning Lab unique?
EH: Our learning lab is unique in that it is a mobile lab so our options for collaboration with other groups and organizations are unlimited.

KC: What theoretical framework are you applying to help inform the design and activities in the space? How, if at all, does Connected Learning play a role? Read More →