What is a Medium?

My discussion group consisted of Emily, Laurie, Jennifer, Suki and myself.  We focused our attention on finding a definition for the word "medium". We defined medium as the delivery mechanism to the content.  We also discussed the changes in relationships according to the mediums that are used.  

Today, we are inundated with information from a great many mediums and management of that information can be overwhelming.  In the article "The Anxiety of Absolescence" article stated that "what has changed in the age of electronic media is not the book per se but the way that books can be read now."  I agree with this statement and for me the feel of a book as I read my favorite novel is absolutely different from viewing text on a screen.  Information is moving at such a rapid speed that the book you've just read will soon become a movie or before a movie is released, pirates on the street can provide you with a bootlegged copy.  Imagine that!

In my line of work, gathering information serves best with multi mediums.  If it wasn't for live media and technology skills our students would have missed viewing the effects of Hurricane Katrina, The Oprah Winfrey School for Girls in South Africa and the Inauguration of Barack Obama as he took the Oath Of Office for President of the United States.  

In a way, critical literacy and cultural literacy work in tandem to assist us with the type of mediums that are available and how we learn to gather information from it. Technology have successfully carved  out a culture of users that are at ease with particular mediums. They want information that is collegiate/academic, entertaining/ amusing, fast-paced, readily available, live and happening. Their mediums of choice is high end, portable and multifunction.  These are the network of users who email, text, blog, read books on the Kindle, who must know, should know, cannot miss, shouldn't miss, get it now, set it and view later. 

As future librarians is not our responsibility to expose patrons/students to various forms of mediums, allowing them to find their niche?  We also discussed how communication have changed the way we interact with each other.  I am not sure whether I would blog if I wasn't enroll in this class but as I figure out and manage the rules of blogging, it will probably become an integral part of my interpersonal communication long after this class is over.

We are inundated with information that is filtered/unfiltered.  There are many patrons that clamor in the public libraries to obtain information from the computers but the waiting time is very long and the half hour working time too short.  The libraries do not have enough computers for the amount of patrons that want to begin their cyber journey.  So, how do we help students make sense of their world and develop critical thinking skills if we don't expose them to as many mediums as possible so that they can make informed decisions?  

What is a medium?  Whatever our definition is for the word"Medium", it will vary according to its users.  I think I can safely say that not one medium is better than the other providing that it satisfies your needs and fulfill your expectations.