Official Blurb

  Additional Information

My name is Jessamyn West and I've been teaching people to use computers since I went to library school at the University of Washington in 1993. I live in Central Vermont and I've been doing basic technology instruction here for six years. I also work at the local library. It seemed unfair to me that there were plenty of programs in place for basic literacy for adults who don't know how to read, but precious few for technologically illiterate adults. Living in an area of the country where many people don't have internet access at home and don't have personal computers makes me realize just how pressing the need is for librarians and other institutions to step up and take on this task.

As more and more functions in our daily life require not just internet access but technological understanding, we're doing a poor job with the social safety net if we don't have a societal mechanism to help people learn and refine these skills. Libraries are one of the few places that offer free access to technology and, sometimes, technology instruction. I wrote this book to help them.

I have a more extensive author page at jessamyn.info, a personal site at jessamyn.com and my main professional site is here at librarian.net.

The book gives this URL for more information. I've broken it down into a few categories. For the official bibliography and webliography for the book, please see those sections.

  Handouts you can use

These are the handouts I have used in many basic skills classes. Obviously you'd need to repurpose them to suit your situation, but it probably beats reinventing the wheel. Links go to zipped sets of documents, you can browse the directory for individual files.

• Software: Excel , Photoshop/Digital Pictures, Word
• Mac Tools: Know Your Mac, Safari (others coming soon!)
• Internet: Ebay, Email, Safe Kids, Searching, Shopping, Twitter, Vocabulary, Websites
• Mouse practice - a series of web pages that allow people to practice mousing skills.
• Tech Support & some basic flyers
• Simple slide shows: Email, Heritage Quest, how to make a simple slide show

  Presentations I've given

I've done a number of different presentations about small and rural libraries and the digital divide generally. While you can find links to all of them on librarian.net's talks page, here are a few that are particularly worth noting.

• Without a Net: Confronting the Digital Divide TXLA, Austin TX, April 12, 2011
• Offline America: Why We Have a Digital Divide [w/ Fiona Morgan & Justin Grimes] SXSW, Austin TX, Mar 11, 2011
• Geek Out Don't Freak Out the Digital Divide and the Library's Mission MCLS, Indianapolis, IN Aug 12, 2010
• How The Other Half Lives Touring The Digital Divide [w/ Jenny Engstrom] SXSW, Austin TX, Mar 16, 2010
• The Information Poor & the Information Don't Care: Small Libraries and the Digital Divide, SJSU. San Jose CA, Oct 26, 2005

The book has a fairly extensive list of web resources that I think people will find useful. The web addresses are all printed out which makes them not super useful for people online. Here is an amended list of the book's list of resources. This list is not intended to be comprehensive and by the time this is in print it may not even be accurate, but it's a carefully curated list of things that I think will be helpful to you most of which I use regularly in my work.

The small libraries I worked with in Vermont
Chelsea
www.chelseavt.org/
Randolph
kimballlibrary.org
Roxbury
roxburyfreelibrary.wordpress.com/
Sharon
www.sharonvt.net/
Tunbridge
tunbridgelibrary.org
Washington
www.librarian.net/calef/
Williamstown
ainsworthpubliclibrary.wordpress.com/

REPORTS
IRS Advancing E-file Study
www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Advancing-E-file-Study-Key-Messages
Falling Through The Net: Toward Digital Inclusion: A Report on Americans' Access to Technology Tools (2000, pdf)
search.ntia.doc.gov/pdf/fttn00.pdf
Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (2008-2009)
ala.org/plinternetfunding
Broadband in the Mississippi Delta: A 21st Century Racial Justice issue by the Center for Social Inclusion (2010)
www.centerforsocialinclusion.org/publications/?url=broadband...
FCC Broadband Study (2009, pdf)
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296442A1.pdf
Pew internet Life Home Broadband Survey (2009, 2008 & 2005)
www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/10-Home-Broadband...
www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/Home-Broadband-2008.aspx
www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2005/Digital-Divisions.aspx
U.S. IMPACT Public Library Study
cis.washington.edu/usimpact/us-public-library-study.html
Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan (2010)
www.broadband.gov/download-plan/
Scaling the Digital Divide: Home Computer Technology and Student Achievements (pdf)
sites.google.com/site/jacobvigdor/digdivide072908.pdf
IMLS Report - Public Libraries in the United States (2007)
harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/pls/pub_detail.asp?id=122
New York City Broadband Landscape and Recommendations (2008, pdf)
file not available online, click for local cache
Closing the Broadband Divide (2007)
www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/Closing-the-Broadband-Divide.aspx
The Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change (pdf)
pewsocialtrends.org/assets/pdf/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-change.pdf
State of America's Libraries Report (2009 & 2010)
www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/soal_archive
www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/2009stateofamericaslibraries/2009statehome.cfm

ACCESSIBILITY
Introduction to Web Accessibility
www.webaim.org/intro/
Designing More Usable Web Sites
trace.wisc.edu/world/web/
The Center on Human Policy
thechp.syr.edu/
Universal Access: Making Library Resources Accessible to People with Disabilities
www.washington.edu/doit/UA/PRESENT/libres.html
ASCLA "Library Accessibility -What You Need to Know" tipsheets
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaprotools/accessibilitytipsheets/
Check your site for accessibility
www.accesskeys.org/
Accessibility at Microsoft
www.microsoft.com/ENABLE/
Accessibility at Apple
www.apple.com/accessibility/
Ubuntu Accessibility
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Accessibility
AbilityHub
www.abilityhub.com/
Usability.gov's Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines (pdf)
usability.gov/guidelines/guidelines_book.pdf
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows
support.microsoft.com/kb/126449
Mac OSX keyboard shortcuts
support.apple.com/kb/ht1343

ADVOCACY
Internet for Everyone
www.internetforeveryone.org/
ALA's Poor People's Policy
Click here and spare your eyes this ghastly URL
Greening Your Library
greeningyourlibrary.wordpress.com/

DESIGN & USABILITY
Quick & Dirty User Testing
www.alistapart.com/articles/quick-and-dirty-remote-user-testing/
Library Usability Testing on the Cheap
www.newrambler.net/lisdom/188
UseIt.com - Jakob Nielsen on Usability and Web Design
www.useit.com/

INSTRUCTION
How to help someone use a computer
polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/how-to-help.html
Tips for Teaching Older Adults to use Computers (pdf)
skyways.lib.ks.us/tricon/2005/handouts/tips_for_teaching.pdf
ACRL Multilingual Instruction Glossary
icanhaz.com/jargon
Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science
lu.com/odlis/
Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/
Library Success Wiki
www.libsuccess.org/
How to use the web for topic search tutorials
www.intute.ac.uk/

INTERNET & BROWSER
I want a Firefox extension to...
www.econsultant.com/i-want-firefox-extension/
Firefox Help
support.mozilla.com/
Google Chrome Help
www.google.com/support/chrome/
Internet Explorer Help
www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/support/help.aspx
Safari Help
www.apple.com/support/safari/

OPEN SOURCE
SquirrelMail
squirrelmail.org/
Open Source Alternatives
www.osalt.com/
Free and Open Source Software Directory
www.webi.org/
Free Software Foundation
www.fsf.org/
Open Source Initiative
www.opensource.org/

POLICIES
Library Social Software Policies
www.web2learning.net/archives/1250
Academic Library Privacy Statements
Another bad ALA URL here.

VIRUS/UPDATES/SAFETY
Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.org/
AVG
www.avg.com/
Browser Security Comparison
www.webdevout.net/browser-security
Hijack This
free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/
HijackThis logfile analyzer
www.hijackthis.de/
Snopes Rumor Debunking
www.snopes.com/computer/computer.asp
Wired Safety
www.wiredsafety.org/

APPENDIX

The appendix materials are some slightly edited reprints of material freely available online. In the interests of space, I'll link to them rather than copy/pasting them. Some materials I wanted to include are copyrighted and I don't have permission to reproduce them here, notably Phil Agre's How to help someone use a computer, which could almost be a three page pamphlet replacement for this entire book. The other documents are

1. Aspects of Computer Literacy list from Wikipedia
2. Usability.govs Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines
   Also listed in the webliography. This is a nearly 300 page book, a free download. It was created, in the authors' own words "To provide quantified, peer-reviewed Web site design guidelines." All the guidelines are presented with scores for "relative importance" (i.e. how important the issue is related to other usability issues, with the awareness that often tough choices much be made) and "strength of evidence" which is how supported by research the guidelines are. Since the document is a government publication, it is in the public domain. I encourage people to download and read the entire publication or just keep it handy.
3. Trust-Inducing Features of Graphic Design
   Also on Usability.gov is this article by Susanne Furman, a usability engineer with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services about how to design web content to induce trust. This is of large concern to DHHS and it should also be something that we as librarians think about. Furman cites an article in Computers and Human Behavior by Y.D. Yang and H.H. Emurian where they outline a framework for what they call "trust-inducing features." I think these are important considerations to keep in mind when designing digital content for libraries. Read these and think of your library's website, or think about the websites of vendors who you do business with. How trust-inducing is the digital content?

GETTING STARTED WITH TECHNOLOGY
Here is a short annotated list of books you can buy for your library and publishers that you should consider.

The seniors guide to PC basics by Gateway Press (2003).

Large print and sensible, I liked this one. Slightly out of date, but fine for basic vocabulary and concepts.

Easy iMac: see it done, do it yourself by Lisa Lee, Prentice Hall (1999).

Another older book with good pictures and general Mac concepts. A good part of a larger tech collection.

Teach yourself visually computers by Paul McFedries, Visual (2007).

More nuts and bolts than most people want, but very picture-oriented with a lot of good explanations about what things are doing. Some people love/require this, some don't.

How Computers Work by Ron White, Que (2007).

Same deal, a very picture oriented book with good explanations.

Is this thing on? by Abby Stokes, Workman Publishing Company (2008) .

Comes recommended with delightful companion website.

The first week with my new iMac by Pam Lessing, Capital Books (2000).

This book is very friendly and chatty and I keep hoping there will be an updated version published. Contains a good overview, there is one for PCs as well.

- Dummies guides for the low tech approach
- O'Reilly books for the higher tech approach.
- Visual Steps books are very popular in libraries

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
No amount of reading material will be useful to staff if they don't pick it up. There is, I believe, a surplus of writing on library and technology. While most of it is good, care should be taken to have a decent but manageable professional development collection that is engaging to read and does not simply duplicate online information. Here are some suggestions of books that I have actually read.

• Accidental Systems Librarian by Rachel Singer Gordon, Information Today, Inc. (2003).
• Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work Environments by Joseph J. Lazzaro, American Library Association (2001).
• Designing the Digital Experience by David Lee King, CyberAge Books (2008).
• Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service by Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk, Information Today, Inc. (2007).
• Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning: Instructional Literacy for Library Educators by Char Booth, American Library Association (2010).
• Social Software in Libraries by Meredith G Farkas, Information Today, Inc. (2007).
• Teaching Web Search Skills: Techniques and Strategies of Top Trainers by Greg R. Notess, Information Today, Inc. (2006).
• Technology Training in Libraries by Sarah Houghton-Jan, Neal-Schuman (2010).
• "Technophobia, Technostress, and Technorealism" in Information Tomorrow by Rachel Singer Gordon, Information Today, Inc. (2007).
• Time Management For System Administrators by Tom Limoncelli, O'Reilly Media (2005).

OTHER TITLES
It can be tough to find good books about design philosophy that aren't also just architecture porn. Designing with access in mind can still result in functional and attractive outcomes. A few suggested titles that approach their topics with dignity.

• Access by Design by George Covington, Van Nostrand Reinhold (1996).
• Beautiful Barrier Free by Cynthia Leibrock, John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1992).
• Design for Dignity: Studies in Accessibility by William Lebovich. John Wiley & Sons (1993).
• Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug, New Riders Press (2005).
• In the Beginning was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson, Harper Perennial (1999).
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere, Continuum (1999).
• The Measure of Man & Woman: Human Factors in Design by Alvin R. Tilley, Wiley (2001).
• Why Things Break: Understanding the World by the Way It Comes Apart by Mark Eberhart, Harmony (2003).

  Where did the cover image come from?

The cover image was created using a WPA poster that was originally done by Lester Beall. Since it was created for the Rural Electrification Administration, the image is in the public domain. ABC-CLIO modified it for the current cover.

  How did you start this project?

I've always been interested in accessibility and usability issues. I spend a lot of my time teaching novice users how to use technology and have been doing this for fifteen years. When Barbara Ittner of Libraries Unlimited contacted me and asked if I had a book idea, this one was obvious. You can read a little more about the process in this article I wrote in February 2011.

  Who did your website?

I did it myself using the simple one-pager that INFLUX created. I made a few adjustments.

  Do you have sample chapters online?

I don't, but I have made the index available online, with permission of my indexer. Feel free to take a look at it.

  Will you come speak to our group about the digital divide?

I love doing public speaking and if time allows I'd be happy to do this. Please email or call me to discuss details. You are welcome to look at my talks page to see some of the other presentations I've done about the digital divide.

  Where should I go if I have other questions?

Librarian.net and jessamyn.com both have their own FAQ pages that are relevant to the content on those sites. You are also more than welcome to contact me using any of the methods in the contact me section below.

Phone: 508.415.9074

Email: jessamyn@gmail.com

AIM: iamthebestartist