Heather Moorefield-Lang - Böcker

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 54, no. 4) looks into the wide definition of accessibility for library patrons within the area of instruction. This topic is discussed in some depth in schools of library science as well as in faculty development and instructional design. This report will encourage readers to think more critically about the technologies that faculty and staff use to address the needs of all patrons served. This report will also aid in identifying and using new methods for addressing the needs of all patrons through a wide range of modalities (closed-captioning, transcription, video, text to speech, image to text, etc.).This contributed work will examine accessibility, technology, and librarianship across a wide spectrum. Ida Mae Craddock will discuss using virtual reality and Google Expeditions with second language learners. Helen Turner and Patrick Lee Lucas will delve into universal design and providing equitable access to students in the University of Kentucky’s College of Design. George Shaw will investigate instruction and access for students taking an online computer programming course. Robert Browder will discuss how to make library materials accessible to readers through PDF scanning. Stacy Brown will discuss the impact of littleBits with students at the K–12 level in libraries. Aisha S. Haynes will examine Quality Matters accessibility measures, online instruction, library partnerships, and professional development. Stacy Hammer will complete the report with a look into the differentiation of instruction in libraries and how technology can be used with students in the K–12 setting.

Professionals in the field of librarianship are creative when it comes to the delivery of information and instruction. If face-to-face options aren’t available, librarians look to digital means, and there are so many options out there—from podcasting, blogging, and edutubing. In this issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 55, no. 5), the authors explore how these forms of digital media and others can help enhance information dissemination and library instruction.

Maker learning spaces in schools and public libraries are made real through the narratives of professional librarians around the world, comprising the collaborative activities, experiences, and perspectives of librarians as they have implemented makerspaces for students of all ages.School Library Makerspaces in Action is for any librarian looking for inspiration for their own makerspaces, hackerspaces, fablabs, or DIY locations and how to use these spaces in libraries and educational settings. Contributions from authors around the world address the needs of most all readers, including how to provide the staff training necessary for a successful makerspace. Each chapter is written from an author's personal experience, and with only a little fine-tuning and imagination, many of these ideas can be used throughout all levels, disciplines, and subjects in K–12 education and carry over into higher education. The successes and optimism shared in this collection will inspire librarians and educators to think positively about how to implement maker learning locations, train staff, and use makerspaces in their libraries and classrooms to promote and share new ideas.