Learning 2.0
In our last post, Molly pointed out the 23 Things/Learning 2.0 project developed by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte/Mecklenberg County.
23 Things/Learning 2.0 is a set of self-directed exercises designed to let all library employees explore the new social software tools on the horizon in a fun, hands-on way. Because Blowers created this program to share, libraries across the country, whether public, academic, or special libraries, have taken up the mantel and created their own versions of the 23 Things/Learning 2.0 exercises.
As the Learning 2.0 course is self-directed, even solo librarians can work their way through the exercises, though working through the exercises at the same time as your peers can be helpful, especially when it comes to bouncing ideas around and getting feedback. One idea to consider is forming a Learning 2.0 community with other librarians in your area. Perhaps even MLA Sections or Chapters might consider hosting a Learning 2.0 course for members. Distance is not an issue.
In collaboration with one of my colleagues in Jacksonville, Florida, Ann Farrell, I am currently in the midst of hosting a Learning 2.0 course for my library system (one week to go!). We’re spread out over 4 states and over 20 libraries, so an online course was a good option for including all of our staff. To make this course relevant to medical library staff, we modified the 23 Things substantially, both to customize it to our library system and to introduce more medical social software applications, such Connotea, PubMed mash-ups and third party tools, medical videos and images on YouTube and Flickr, and etc. We also had a great session on medical librarian and medical blogging, taught by David Rothman. Blowers has given the library community a great pattern to work from, but you can really make it your own.
What has this program done for my library system? Time will tell, but already our library staff, both the librarians and library associates, have come up with dozens of ideas to improve library services and make their own jobs easier. We’ve also had a lot of fun, and that’s what’s really important.