Integrated Liberal Studies

This activity asks you to find a video from one of two specific video channels. These videos are very short (1-3 minutes) and do not have a lot of description available, which is odd considering who produced them. So you might have to go through 3 or 4 before you find one that is suitable for discussion.

The first is New York Public Library. Library stories [YouTube playlist]. Available online: https://www.youtube.com/NewYorkPublicLibrary The second is American Library Association playlist – Libraries Transform https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY6JdvV7ZFZu2ZW4HvtDOpMV8s0Al2qtt Choose *one* video from *either* of these video sources. Your task is to choose one that addresses the digital divide in some way – how public libraries are helping their users bridge that divide or otherwise supporting them in ways that involve information and information technology. Post to your discussion forum the video you found, and where you found it How you see it relating to the digital divide as we have been talking about it in this course this summer

Your thoughts about the future of American public libraries as community agencies to cross the digital divide. Some prompts: What are public libraries already doing right? What should they do more of? What should they do differently? SHOULD taxpayer dollars support them to do more or different than they are doing? You might find this June story from the New York Times to be interesting in this regard! All opinions are welcome! But please support your statements with citations so that others can see what you saw.