Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide

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Product Description

Teaching novice computer users, including seniors and individuals with disabilities such as low vision or motor skills, how to do what they want and need to do online is a formidable challenge for library staff. Part inspirational, part practical Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide is a summary of techniques, approaches, and skills that will help librarians meet this challenge.

Jessamyn C. West's experience as a librarian, deeply immersed in technology culture yet living in rural America, makes her uniquely qualified to write this book. Taking a big-picture approach to the subject, she demystifies and simplifies tech training for the busy librarian, providing an easy-to-use handbook full of techniques that can be used with many different library populations. As an added bonus, she also examines the players in the library technology arena to offer firsthand reports on what works, what doesn't, and what's next.

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Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide Review

I'm not a librarian. I'm Jessamyn's mom and I originally bought the book just to show support. I didn't actually think I'd read it, since I assumed it was aimed mainly at librarians. After flipping through the first few pages, though, I was hooked. The text is highly readable, friendly, and practical. I found it fascinating because it is as much about learning as it is about technology. I tutor a few senior citizens on using computers, so perhaps that's why I responded to this book so strongly. Jessamyn explains how to teach a complex subject and make it accessible to various audiences. She points out misconceptions that novice technology users often have and tells why those misconceptions might be fostered accidentally by experienced users.

One real strength of this book is its ability to remind technology users of how much they know that they have forgotten that they actually learned. For example, a newbie may think that a feature of one particular browser or email program is common to all. When faced with a different browser or program, the person might panic. Newcomers do not know what preferences can easily be changed, or what a default setting might be. They don't know which email is accessible from any computer and which is stored only on their machine. They often open a web page and then read every word, rather than scanning for what is relevant. Such differences mean only that they are inexperienced, not stupid.

Librarians should find this book immensely helpful, but so will others, I think. It is filled with useful strategies, resources, and tips. I recommend it wholeheartedly not only to librarians, but also to community education teachers and technology tutors. Yes, I'm a proud mom, but I'm also a writer of educational materials and a longtime tutor, so I know what types of materials are helpful.

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