Librarians can’t be information experts if they don’t have basic tech skills

Almost every library conference I’ve attended recently has featured teens answering questions about technology. Presenters will ask student panelists how many of them have sent a text message that day, and most of their hands will shoot straight up. When the question is posed to an audience of librarians, only a few raise their hands. It quickly becomes clear that, unlike teens, few librarians have embraced technology as part of their everyday lives—a fact that could have a devastating effect on the future of our profession.

Not long ago, I was one of those technophobic librarians. But as I spent more time with teens, I began to wonder, how can we continue calling ourselves the “information experts” if we don’t possess basic literacy with the technology that’s so commonplace to our young patrons? Can we truly understand how to best serve our teens if we’re uncomfortable with the ways they communicate and process information?

Sure, there are legitimate reasons why we aren’t always on the cutting edge of new technologies. At work, we face technology and budgetary hurdles. But in reality, we may just need to take matters into our own hands, devoting our personal resources (yes, even our own money) to doing so. Here are a few ways to help start incorporating technology into your life.

Purchase an up-to-date computer or laptop. Visit a local computer store or the Web sites of companies such as Dell or Apple to find a computer that best suits your needs.

Learn to send text messages. Texting surpasses talking on cell phones as the number-one form of communication for teens. Go to a nearby Sprint or Verizon store for a free tutorial or even ask a teen to give you a lesson.

Create an Instant Message account. AOL, Yahoo!, or any online service provider can help you set one up. Then IM a colleague or teen. It’s a great way to communicate in real time and teens love it. If your library forbids installing IM software, do it on your own computer.

Read or start your own blog, and learn about syndicated feeds. Blogs aren’t just fun, they’re also educational tools. Look for an easy-to-read blog written by a librarian that offers technology information, such as the www.theshiftedlibrarian.com or www.tametheweb.com. Utilize RSS and Atom feeds, formats for syndicating Web content, to receive automatic updates from your favorite Web sites and blogs.

Regularly browse tech magazines. Get into the habit of reading PC Magazine, PC World, and Macworld, particularly their year-end roundups of new technologies. It’s a great way to keep informed and perhaps teach a teen a thing or two about a newfound technology.

Find a place to play videogames on the PS2, Xbox, or GameCube; join in Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) the next time you see a teen playing it. Gaming is more than just goofing off—it can be used to help teens develop their reading and technology skills, but in the case of DDR, it’s also a great way to work out. Take a cue from West Virginia, which is planning to use hundreds of DDR sets in their schools’ physical education programs.

Get an iPod or an MP3 player. If you can’t buy one, borrow one. Explore the software used to download information onto these devices. It’s not only about music. Many schools are using these wonderful little handhelds to distribute instructional material and create teen podcasts.

Explore social sites such as Myspace or Friendster. These sites aren’t just online personals. Teens are using them to share music and pictures and talk about technology, dating, school, and their lives.

Upload your digital pictures to a photo-sharing site. Check out sites like Shutterfly, Picasa, and Flickr. They offer a great way to share your photos and talk about them with your friends and family worldwide.

Maybe you’ve already thought about doing some of these things but you just haven’t gotten around to it. Don’t wait any longer. One of the best things about being a teen librarian is that we’ve always been good at staying young and keeping up with what’s new. Let’s stay true to our past—by embracing the present.