Navigating Screens: Libraries as Community Hubs for Teaching Positive Screen Media Practices

Abstract

Most children are spending increasing amounts of time each day using a wide range of digital media (e.g. smartphones, iPads, and laptops). However, parents and other caregivers are often unequipped to play the roles of media mentors and family digital literacy educators, and most youth services librarians are unsure how to talk to parents about teaching good digital media use habits. The Navigating Screens project team features three nationally-recognized youth and media researchers (Willett, from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Abbas, from The University of Oklahoma, and Agosto, from Drexel University) plus an advisory board comprised of public and school librarians, as well as influential youth and technology experts with strong ties to schools, youth groups, and other community organizations. With research and testing sites in five different U.S. public libraries in three different geographic areas, Navigating Screens gathered a rich set of data from parents and library and other professionals to learn the digital media practices within families who have children ages 5-11, and to explore how libraries and library staff guide parents in media practices. The data set includes transcripts from interviews with parents, library staff, and community professionals.

All "Navigating Screens" training materials are licensed for free sharing, redistribution, and adaptation under CC BY 4.0.

Project website: https://navigatingscreens.wordpress.com/