Week 9, November 7, Information Literacy & instruction in public libraries (Melissa Brenneman, Reference Technology Instruction Librarian, Knox County Public Library)

This class had an awesome guest speaker from Knox County Public, Melissa Brenneman, Reference , Technology, Instruction Librarian, who stayed late at her job to share with us what it is like to do instruction in a public library setting.  There are many more issues in the public setting than in the academic library setting due to the varying types of patrons.  The free computer workshops are popular and it was interesting to hear the different things they have tried in delivering that service.  It seems in a public library setting there may be more users who take advantage of the efforts they offer and sometimes to the detriment to other users.  It was nice to hear that they sometimes bend the 12 and over rule based on individuals.  Academic libraries don’t have many patrons extremely young or extremely old.   It was fun to hear the difference in attendance depending on what she called her workshop that teaches Google.  Google Secrets attracts more users.  I was impressed with the types if classes they offer from basic computing, Internet, and e-mail to Excel and Word classes.