Supporting family learning and interaction through information and communications technology in public libraries in Taiwan

This article presents findings from an action research pilot project, Involve Me, aiming to support family learning and interaction through information and communications technology in public libraries. Five workshops were developed and delivered between August and November 2013 in three public libraries in Taiwan. Technological resources used included computers and handheld devices. Four research methods: questionnaires, participant observation, recording, and social networking, were used to gather data. Evaluation of the workshops reflected a changing role of the researcher from a teacher to children to a facilitator of adult-child interaction through information and communications technology. The pilot project established that supporting family learning and interaction through information and communications technology in public libraries worked, but that further work was required. Building on the evidence collected in this project, academic-practice partnership for supporting adult-child dialogue through information and communications technology is considered an important area to go forward, which requires genuine institutional engagement.