Introduction
Personal and Professional Digital Capacity in Librarianship and Libraries – Tools and Prompts
Digital capability is on on-going process and journey in our organisations and for ourselves as individuals and as teachers in those organisations. Engaging with the framework should help us to clarify our own thoughts on digital skills and digital competencies and prompt further exploration of how they apply to our own professional experience.
The All Aboard project ( http://www.allaboardhe.ie) developed the following model for digital skills and knowledge. It examines the different elements involved in developing and embedding digital capacity for organisations and individuals.
All Aboard Digital Skills in Higher Education, 2015
Tools and Technologies
- What kind of digital applications can libraries use to their advantage?
- Is the potential of digital technological tools being fully utilised in your library?
- Does the constant emergence of newer and better tools lead to confusion about which ones to use and promote?
- Is there a coherent and connected development of digital capacity across the library sector?
Teach and Learn
- How are we including the student voice when building digital capacity in the library?
- Do we make assumptions about how digitally literate students are?
- Are full and part-time students getting the same access to training in digital technologies
- How can we collaborate with academics to develop a consistent and coherent digital experience for students in Higher Education?
- How can we use these tools to increase the quality of the way we teach?
- How can we successfully embed the use of these tools in our teaching and library practice?
- How do we ensure that they are making a contribution to the quality of the way we teach?
Identity and Wellbeing
- Are we using digital channels to promote the work of the library both internally and externally?
- Are we taking a role in promoting safe and respectful online communication?
Find and Use
- How can we most effectively provide information literacy skills for our student/researchers/academics?
- Are we active in critically assessing digital information resources for our organisation?
- Are we providing guidance on copyright, plagiarism and licencing?
Create and innovate
- How can we identify barriers to developing innovative digital practices across our libraries?
- How can we be champions in developing digital practices in our libraries?
- What resources do we need to feel empowered to develop new ideas and approaches?
Communicate and Collaborate
- How can we ensure that the digital culture in our libraries supports access, inclusion and equality of opportunity?
- How can we promote collaboration within and across our organisations?