Thing 22

Twenty three things or something like can easily be adapted to use with my library staff. As said, this is the way patrons are functioning. We need to know of and about these things. Librarians have to be able to stay up with the Jones so to speak or at least our patrons. If they are wanting MP3 audio tapes and we’re pushing cassettes, how many times do you think they’ll be back to use our resources? If our librarians or libraries don’t have a presence where the users are—the internet—then other information resources will take our place. All of these tools really offer us exciting opportunities to produce media easily and to make connections. Yes, we have to stretch and the marketplace of tools is constantly changing. So, we become learners and aren’t always the experts. Is that really so bad? I think not. Librarians need to be open to learning and then also supportive of others as they learn especially when we throw out those new databases or new interfaces that seem so intuitive to us. The possibilities this course offers is worth the frustration.

Last fall our school librarians were offered the option of 10 Things. I lead the group learning about 2 second ahead of the others. I was really surprised at how many dropped out during the period of time. Some of the learning does make you uncomfortable and is very time consuming. But, I know that those of us who went to the end (I guess the leader always has to go to be end.) really did benefit. Several have commented since then about the value of it. Several also participated again in this particular 23 things. And I think they enhanced their skills in so doing. I know they learned more and gained confidence in their web 2.0 skills. They will be out there using these tools to advocate for their particular library and make a connection with their patrons. Offering mini sessions like these to faculty or other librarians or other staff or even parents would be worthwhile time spent.

The format we’ve used for this course can easily be adapted and repeated in our own libraries. I think the time spent doing these sessions has been well worth it. I might focus the example more school related if doing it just for my school librarians. Expanding to give examples from both primary and secondary libraries would make the experience more relevant. Both levels tend to think narrowly in scope and need to be shown that it will work at my level. Adapting this course would be worthwhile. Of course, I can already think of 4 or 5 other tools I’d add.

I also have to comment that the reflection part has been worth it. I’m not much of a blogger and I’d prefer not to discuss my thoughts. I’m just not a touchy, feely person. But, I must admit that the writing process really has clarified my thought process. As I write I think of other solutions or other ways to solve a technical problem I encountered. Though a pain, I really do value the writing part which causes you to crystallize your thinking about a certain tool and what’s its value might be.