Guest Post: WAPL Highlights - Friday

Author: Elizabeth M. Timmins Library, Director, Muehl Public Library

Friday, May 4, 2018

Lindsay exposing participants to new social apps.

8:30-9:30

Toddlers to Teens

Lindsay Conrad, Special Agent, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Madison

Resource mentioned in this breakout: Protect Kids Online Podcast @ www.ProtectKidsOnlineWI.gov

This session was very informative. Protecting kids online is the job of all of us. We can teach net etiquette from the time children start using the Internet. If kids understand the appropriate ways to use the Internet when they are younger, they will retain those good habits as they age.

Some key messages: 

 - If you have not met the person in real life they are NOT your friend. 

 - Once you send something electronically, it is always there and it will never go away.  

 - For parents of teens/tweens: Teens should not have privacy with their devices. Parents can learn how to use parental controls. Parents can require their children to not sleep with their devices. Parents can learn how to check that their children do not have multiple accounts in an app (one of which they are hiding) and/or they are utilizing apps that are designed to hide.

Ashlee (left) and Jayme (right) and SPARKY mascot.

Friday, May 4, 2018

11:15-12:15

Our Makerspace

Ashlee Kunkel and Jayme Anderson

Resource mentioned in this breakout: Mentor application for volunteering in THE SPARK (Milton Public Library makerspace) @ https://thesparkatmpl.wordpress.com/mentors/

Ashlee is the young adult librarian and Jayme is the children’s librarian at the Milton Public Library in Milton, WI. They have a successful new makerspace in their library called “The Spark.” In their makerspace there is always something to do! They have individual projects set out and they plan collaborative projects with their community. Pinterest is an ongoing, wonderful resource for ideas for them.

They learned very quickly that they needed help so they began targeting older people with expertise. These mentors fill out an application (see resource mentioned) and then they begin integrating the mentor into their space.

Broad lessons they shared with listeners:

·         People are needy and can be wasteful if unsupervised.

·         You’re already doing STEAM, and you may not realize it.

·         High tech is cool but does not always mean easy programs.