The First All-Digital Library Space: The Effectiveness of BiblioTech's Services for Urban Youth
As the first physical library space in the United States offering all technological and digital resources, BiblioTech provides much-needed support for youth in the urbanized area of San Antonio, Texas. In this study, we critically analyzed the impact of the library's services on the community u...
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Published in | Journal of research on libraries and young adults Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 1 - 21 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Chicago
American Library Association
01.01.2019
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | As the first physical library space in the United States offering all technological and digital resources, BiblioTech provides much-needed support for youth in the urbanized area of San Antonio, Texas. In this study, we critically analyzed the impact of the library's services on the community using mixed methods, specifically looking at the merit and value of BiblioTech's services for middle and high school students. The findings of a chi-squared analysis indicated a non-significant but interesting relationship between usage of library services and reading achievement data. Utilizing focus groups and surveys with middle and high school students, we documented the importance of the social nature of BiblioTech's physical and digital spaces in the lives of the young people it serves. Namely, youth talked about their appreciations of BiblioTech's services and the affordances those services offered them. They also talked about the importance of the relationships they developed with both peers and staff at BiblioTech and the way in which the services offered them opportunities for personal development. |
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ISSN: | 2157-3980 |