August 20, 2012, Club Bulletin #431
Program for August 20, 2012: Bill Decker Instructional Support Levy Part One
Invocation by: Norm Smith
Guests on August 13: Cara Hahn, Emily Smith, Andrea Scott, Jo Anne Ruby, Ed Goering, Lois Goering, Bobby Fiedler.
Mike Ruby introduced the Goering’s. Ed is a fellow Rotarian from Corvallis, Oregon. The Ruby’s met them on the ski slopes in Canada at a Rotary Ski event and they have become good friends. The Goering’s are currently on the road in their mobile home one their way back to Oregon.
Fun and Fellowship: One golfer was chosen from each table. The golfer with highest score after each round sat down and the last golfer standing’s table gave dollars to the “fun”draising pot.
Your Rotary Board: President, Kelly Garvin, Keith Porter, Sarah Ingstad, Secretary, Brooke Mehaffey, Treasurer ,Mike Ruby, Tony Joseph, Scott Ingstad, Steve Jameson and Mary Odell.
Announcements: Cynthia Maeglin has tickets for the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra Gala on Friday, September 7th from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Clarion featuring 4 celebrity chefs, a silent auction, a regular action, and entertainment. Tickets are $25; if you’d like to purchase one see Cynthia. Andrea Scott with YPN invited everyone to the glow ball tournament they are hosting on September 22nd - more information to come.
Happy News: Scott Ingstad and his wife just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Chris and Sarah Ingstad are having a boy. Andrea Scott with Young Professionals Network met with the new MSD teachers and is excited about the passion they are bringing into school district. Harvey Allbee’s 51st wedding anniversary is tomorrow.
Program August 13, 2012: Pam Collins and Bobby Fiedler from the Musser Public Library talked about Digital Literacy
Bobby talked about what digital literacy is and the digital divide. Pam shared about the future for Musser Public library.
Literacy is the quality of being literate and the knowledge of letters especially the ability to read and write. Digital literacy is the ability to use information and information technology to find, evaluate and communicate information required through devices such as computers and gps devices and to use sources such as Facebook.
Bobby teaches digital classes at the library and compares this to learning a new language. He also pointed out that with the speed that things are moving it is important to stay current. The digital divide refers to the lack of knowledge people may have about digital literacy and the negative impact it can have on how well people succeed especially in this time when many job applications and resumes are done online. Libraries are able to provide this link to people by teaching them about digital devices and also having them available for use.
In 1995 only about 1 in 10 adults in the US were going online. In 2011 the internet population is at 78%.
Today about 1 in 5 adults don’t use the internet. About ½ of these do not go online because they choose not to. Of the people that are not online, senior citizens and those without a high school education are the main categories. Also about 27% of adults living with a disability are less likely to go online.
Today 85% of people own cell phones; 57% have a laptop; 19% own e-Readers; and 19% own a tablet. And, Smartphones are increasingly becoming a way to be digitally literate by being able to access the internet when you do not have access to a computer.
Pam shared that over one half of libraries report that don’t have enough computers available so will have to restrict time in the future. This service is increasingly important in libraries as a way for individuals to get to e-Government services, resume services and job services. This becomes challenging when individuals come in for help but have no computer skills and do not have an email address. One way this has been addressed is a shift in reference service which allows staff to spend time helping find email services etc.
Many new classes at Musser Public Library are being held geared towards boomers to learn to use Facebook, Twitter, Skype, iPads, smart phones, and e-Readers. Another program is the technology petting zoo which allows people to get a feel of the new technology without having to purchase it.
Pam sees libraries remaining as a technology leveler by providing tools to people to utilize services and technologies as they move into the future.