Becoming a Media Mentor : A Guide for Working with Children and Families

Foreword by Chip Donohue In a time of rapidly changing technologies, the role of the youth services librarian has expanded to include the realm of digital media. Supporting children's literacy now means serving as a media mentor. This book empowers youth services staff to confidently assist families and caregivers as they navigate the digital world, guiding them towards digital media experiences that will translate into positive and productive lifelong learning skills, regardless of format. Melding the latest research and key messages from a variety of experts with replicable examples, this book defines what it means to be a media mentor, providing historical background and context; outlines three types of media mentorship: media advisory, programming, and access to curated media; outlines the implications of media mentorship in libraries, focusing on a shift from the notion of "screen time" to "healthy media decisions"; draws on detailed case studies from a wide variety of libraries and community partnerships to showcase inspiring media mentorship in action with ages 0-14; provides guidelines for working with diverse families and caregivers; and explores management issues around media mentorship, ALSC competencies, suggestions of additional resources, and professional development. Guiding children's librarians to define, solidify, and refine their roles as media mentors, this book in turn will help facilitate digital literacy for children and families. In a time of rapidly changing technologies, the role of the youth services librarian has expanded to include the realm of digital media. Supporting children's literacy now means serving as a media mentor. This book empowers youth services staff to confidently assist families and caregivers as they navigate the digital world, guiding them towards digital media experiences that will translate into positive and productive lifelong learning skills, regardless of format. Melding the latest research and key messages from a variety of experts with replicable examples, this book defines what it means to be a media mentor, providing historical background and context; outlines three types of media mentorship: media advisory, programming, and access to curated media; outlines the implications of media mentorship in libraries, focusing on a shift from the notion of screen time to healthy media decisions; draws on detailed case studies from a wide variety of libraries and community partnerships to showcase inspiring media mentorship in action with ages 0-14; provides guidelines for working with diverse families and caregivers; and explores management issues around media mentorship, ALSC competencies, suggestions of additional resources, and professional development. Guiding children s librarians to define, solidify, and refine their roles as media mentors, this book in turn will help facilitate digital literacy for children and families." Part I. Becoming a media mentor What is a media mentor? Voice from the field: Carisa Kluver Media mentorship : research and implications for libraries Voice from the field: Michael Robb Media mentorship and the three C's : content, context and the child Voice from the field: Lisa Guernsey Media mentorship and diversity Voice from the field: Susan B. Neuman and Donna Celano Media mentors : working with parents, families and community needs Voice from the field: Jason Boog Media mentors : management and professional development Voice from the field: Sarah Houghton Three ways to be a media mentor Voice from the field: Michael Levine Part II. Media mentors in action Media advisory New media in programs Access to curated media Appendix A. ALSC white paper: Media mentorship in libraries serving youth Appendix B. ALSC white paper: The importance of diversity in library programs and material collections for children Appendix C. Evaluating apps and new media for young children : a rubric bibliography. Media mentors guide children and their families in choosing and using the technology and digital media in their lives. Haines and Campbell describe what it means to be a digital-age librarian working with literacy development and children's media. Along the way they introduce you to some of the media mentors who have grounded their use of digital media with relationships that encourage joint engagement and enhanced learning