Scholarly Research on Digital Media Labs: Part I

Scholarly research on the topic of digital media labs is slightly scarce as this new phenomenon has taken the library world by storm.  It's important to know that digital media labs have been more prevalent in academic libraries due to the availability of funds as well as the needed security for the specialized equipment included in the lab that academic libraries are more able to provide.  On that note, it was surprising one of the first research articles I found documenting about digital media labs came from Jamie Mayo, the manager of the Central Youth Services Department for the Kansas City Missouri Public Library.  (In her brief biography, it notes how she co-wrote the proposal for one of the learning lab grants that I mentioned in a previous post that comes from the MacArthur Foundation).  The fact that a public library entered the realm of digital media labs is astounding and shows the dedication they have to provide their community with up-to-date technology that inspires creativity, collective innovations, and life-long learning opportunities.  Mayo speaks of how teens have become more intrigued with technology and its creative usages by mentioning a study conducted by Mizuko Ito where it was found that teens have three levels of engagement which included a basic interest in technology creation to a totally "geeked" level where they are technological masterminds (but in a good way).  No matter the level, Ito found that the learning labs are "expected to offer opportunities for fostering all three types of engagement..."(p.32) which would appeal to different teens in different stages of creativity levels.  The solidity of digital media labs being a force of greatness in the teen world is what makes this article so fascinating that it is appealing to the needs of our future inventors, singer/songwriters, etc. in the most creatively and freest way possible.  Kudos to this library for recognizing a need and encouraging other libraries, both public and school, to follow suit.

                   The Kansas City Public Library’s mobile digital media lab has been in the making since 2012.  (Images courtesy of Andrea Ellis)

References

Mayo, J. (2013). Learning labs learning curve. Young Adult Library Services, 11(2), 32-34.