Hi! I am Kate, a Youth Services Librarian in Jersey City. I began my job in the midst of the COVID-19 virus, with many branches of the library being closed to the public. So digital technologies have been pivotal to my library system's goal of reaching our patrons across Jersey City. I have used Zoom for dozens of programs that have reached tens of thousands of local school children through my Fun Fridays! program. If the special guest allows, we then post the Zoom recording to our social media platforms, like YouTube and Facebook, so that the event is available to any patron who missed the event, or wants to watch it again.
One of the pros of using digital technology is that we can reach a much wider audience. Our Zoom room allows up to 1,000 users. Often times our Zoom room would reach capacity. Tools like Google Meet would allow one teacher to share our Zoom room event with dozens of their students, so that the event was available to all who wanted to join. Our in-person events would not be able to accommodate all those attendees, so Zoom has been helpful for reaching more patrons. On the other hand, there are certain demographics that thrive on in-person programming, namely teens in my experience. Our teen-centered programs often have just 1 attendee because this age group appreciates relationship-building, which is very hard to initiate virtually.
Developing my technological skills might be helpful to combat this issue. Many teens do not use the digital platforms that my library system focuses on, so it would be advantageous to learn more about the digital spaces they inhabit. I would love to learn more about TikTok, Discord, and Twitch so that maybe I can host programs that teens are more interested in attending. It is also good to keep abreast of the digital trends as there are always new digital spaces - like Clubhouse - to which patrons are flocking. It is the library's job to serve its community and meet people where they are. If we continue using older technologies and platforms, we will not be supporting our patrons to the best of our ability. In fact, many people come to us to learn about new technology, so it is imperative that we are familiar enough with trends to help our patrons make way on their own digital journeys.
