Learning 2.0 and Public Libraries
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[edit] Digital Media
Learning 2.0 and Public Libraries
"Whistles & Bells" (December Mix)
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[edit] Abstract
Learning 2.0 and Public Libraries: What are they doing with the collaborative technology after Learning 2.0 Over 200 Public Libraries participated in Learning 2.0 sponsored by the Public Library Charlotte Mecklenberg County(PLCMC) in NC. The objective of my report is to research Learning 2.0 and determine what public libraries have done after completing the program with the tools they have learned. Self-learning is cost-effective and quicker than the traditional classroom method. I interviewed three individuals from 3 public library systems for this report. Goal of libraries is to raise cummulative pool of tech IQ of staff and provide better customer service. (David Wasserman, Personal Communication, November 28, 2007)
[edit] Outcome
- PLCMC trained 66% of Staff in 3 months @ a cost of $10,000. The traditional classroom method would have cost $90,000, taken 8 weeks to train 12 staff per class, took 9 years to complete training. (Helen Blowers, Personal Communication, November 29, 2007)
- Library Systems are continuing to adopt the "23 Things". Sno-Isle Library System Sno-Isle Library System, in Washington is starting in 2008. (Colleen Brazil, Personal Communication, November 29, 2007)
- The systems I interviewed are using wikis and blogs for internal and public service use. Wikis for Reference Services, Committees, Interdepartmental communication, Blogs for special interest: book groups, knitting groups, employee communication. RSS Feeds for Childrens' Storytime updates.
[edit] Learning 2.0
[edit] Introduction
Learning 2.0: My first introduction to Learning 2.0 was last spring when my employer, KCLS introduced the Learning 2.0 program to the staff. My wiki report is focused on researching Learning 2.0 and how public libraries have embraced this collaborative technology to improve communication with users and employees through the use of the various collaborative technologies. This interest me as I am seeing first hand how Learning 2.0 has gone from a program to being implemented into the workplace as practical tools at work. After seeing the success of Learning 2.0 at KCLS and its impact on our workplace, I decided to explore what other library systems are doing with Learning 2.0 after the program is over and how they are utilizing collaborative technology in their workplace.
[edit] What is Learning 2.0?
Learning 2.0 is a self-learning program developed by Helene Blowers, Technology Director at PLCMC in August 2006. Helene developed this program to help staff keep up with the new and changing technology on the internet. (Blowers, 20007). PLCMC had been involved in traditional classroom training to address " technical core competencies" skills based on staff's job classification. The core competencies skills addressed things as basic as "how to change a printer cartridge", and how to "enter your time on an electronic time sheet." The Core Competencies at PLCMC are broken down into four tiers from general to specialized skills. All of these classes were traditional classroom type training sessions. Lori Reed, a training specialist at PLCMC's explained that the core competencies training brought the average staff competency score from 71% to 95%. (2007) The challenge now was to design training that would help staff keep up-to-speed with the rapidly changing technology on the internet.
Learning 2.0 was developed to meet that challenge and meet it outside of the traditional classroom setting. Originally, PLCMC tried teaching Learning 2.0 in the classroom, but found they could not reach enough staff through this learning modality. PLCMC has more than 500 staff and 24 locations in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC. The first attempt was called "Tech Talk" and covered blogging, RSS and newsreaders, downloadable audiobooks, and podcasting. After four months, Helene and Lori decided a different approach was needed. (2007)
[edit] The Original Learning 2.0 23 Things
Helene developed this program after reading an article by Stephen Abram's called the "43 Things You Might Want to Do This Year". (Helene Blowers, Personal Communication, November 29, 2007) In the article, Abram's discusses how many of us learn by putting our goals in writing. (Abrahm, 2006) He lists "43 cool things you might want to do this year" and they range from blogging, checking out LibraryThing, setting up a Flickr account, to setting up a Del.icio.ous account.(2006) Helene decided 43 Things were too many things for a self-learning program and cut it down to 23 Things or self-discovery exercises for the original PLCMC program. (Helene Blowers, Personal Communication, November 29, 2007) To motivate staff, they were awarded a MP3 player when they completed the program after 9 weeks. The PLCMC 23 Things program was launched August 2006 with 352 staff starting the program and 222 finishing. (2007)
The key component of the 23 Things are the nine lessons done at your own pace each week. They consist of an:
- Introduction
- Blogging
- Photos & Images
- RSS & Newreaders
- Play Week
- Tagging & Folksonomies
- Wikis
- Online applications & tools
- Podcasts, videos, & Downloadable audio
The main activity of the "23 Things" program is blogging. The participants recorded their thoughts about each lesson on their blogs and become part of an online social network community. (Blowers, 2007) According to Blowers, Learning 2.0 was a big success at PLCMC and built teamwork. Plus, the employees found it fun.
The outcome of Learning 2.0 is that libraries all over the world have adopted this program. From Virgina Beach Public Library, which is currently doing "23 Things" to KCLS in King County, Washington which finished last spring. At last count over 200 libraries had participated.
[edit] Interviews
To gather information for this report, I interviewed three individuals involved in bringing collaborative technology to public libraries. First was Helene Blowers, Director of Public Services and Technology who designed the the original Learning 2.0in North Carolina which kicked off interest in participatory culture for many public libraries including KCLS. My report will then shift to discussing how public libraries in the Seattle area: KCLS and Sno-Isle Library Systemhave implemented wikis and blogs to improve communication with employees and provide increased customer service to patrons.
- PLCMC: Phone interview on November 29, 2007 with Helene Blowers.
Helene was eager to share information about her experiences with the "23 Things" programs and how the program had impacted staff. I told her I enjoyed reading her Librarybytes blog and heard about her new move to Colombus, Ohio. She is going to head up the IT department at a large library system in Columbus Library in 2008. She told me the inspiration for the "23 Things" program came from "frustration" and from the Abrams article. Helen said the traditional classroom training was not reaching staff fast enough and "Learning 2.0" developed out of the frustration of not getting enough staff trained quickly enough in the traditional setting. She said if they had trained the 500 + staff in the classroom the "23 Things" program would have taken 9 years, and cost $90,000. The self-learning model cost $10,000, took 3 months, and had a 66% finish rate. Staff received MP3 players which were part of the cost. One of the librarians at PLCMC remarked that this program was like a "Summer Reading Program", but for adults. (Blowers, 2007). The program has become extremely successfully and spun off by libraries across the country and internationally. The PLCMC staff are utilizing these collaborative tools to provide better customer service to patrons and to do their job more effectively. She said they have Reference wikis, Departmental blogs & wikis, special interest blogs such as a knitting blog,Minthillstitchin book blog, and podcast childrens' stories. The PC labs started a wiki to work with special needs patrons. There is also a "Guys Read Blog" run by two male librarians, which is targeted toward boys age 11-13 to encourage reading in this age range. Helene's advice is: "Make Play your New Year's Resolution". (Helene Blowers, Personal Communication, November 29, 2007)
- KCLS: phone interview on November 28, 2007 with David Wasserman.
David Wasserman is the Electronic Resources Librarian at KCLS in King County, Washington. This library system has 1600 employees, 800 of them are full-time employees and the rest part-time. I work for this system and took part of the "23 Things" before taking this class last spring. David contacted Helen and received permission to use the program which he partially rewrote for KCLS. He said he rewrote about 3/4 of the program. Out of the 500 employees who started at KCLS, 320 finished. (That is a fairly high percentage as I did not finish the program and many of my co-workers did not finish it either. The branch I work at is very busy and we were not given much time at work to do the lessons. It truly was a "self-learning program" at KCLS as in "do it at home". ) Back to David: The goal of the program was to raise the cummulative technical IQ of staff and be able to answer patron questions. Basically, be familar with My Space and the other collaborative technologies and be able to help the patron without looking confused. According to David, the program has been successful and many collaborative tools are in the works from blogs to wikis. A training podcast of the Preston shipping department is on "You Tube" [KCLS AMH Tour] The next podcast was developed by the KCLS training department as an example of "What not Do" and then "What to Do" [[KCLS Training] A new way for KCLS!
- Sno-Isle: email interview on November 29, 2007 with Colleen Brazil.
Colleen Brazil is a Librarian Content Access Manager, Sno-Isle Library System. Sno-Isle is going to participate in the "Learning 2.0 23 Things" program in 2008. They are using collaborative technology in the workplace by utilizing blogs and wikis in teens and collections. Catalog Services is consoladating a local practices document into a wiki. They are using google.docs and zoho.com. Currently, they RSS a weekly podcast of children's stories and have plans to do more podcastings. Several of the branches have blogs.(Colleen Brazil, Personal Communicaton, November 28, 2007) I did not have the opportunity to speak with Colleen personally so I just have what she emailed me.
[edit] Public Libraries after 23 Things
Libraries after the Learning 2.0 and the 23 Things are like Star Trek. "Boldly going where no one has gone before". They are using non-traditional tools to reach customers and connect with them. Take the example of the Hennepin Library, MN who are finding "blogs a great vehicle to reach teens and adults". (Brookover, 2007) It is no longer enough for libraries to sit back and wait for customers to find them. Its important for libraries to promote their services and connect with their user base and collaborative technologies are excellent tools to accomplish this goal. The Mint Hill Library, a branch of the PLCMC is another good example of a public library that is using blogs in creative ways to reach the public and staff. A Library Assistant at the Mint Hill branch who is an avid knitter started a knitting blog for some of the staff that is now being used by the public. (Helene Blowers, Personal Communication, November 29, 2007)
At KCLS, there are many examples of collaborative technology being implemented in the workplace. There is a Training Blog, a Childrens' Librarian wiki, the Library Clusters are developing wikis, and our Director, Bill, has a blog. Plus, there are more examples in the KCLS internal website. The AMH (Automated Materials Handling) Podcast from the Preston Shipping Facility is a good example of demonstrating efficiency and customer service through the use of social networking tools. The new system is getting the materials/books placed on hold by patrons through the system to the appropriate pick-up library location faster and more cost-effectively with fewer mistakes.
All over the internet, you see book blogs, Booklust Nancy Pearl's Booklust is a classic here in Seattle, the Mooresville Public Library has a book wiki, Mooresville Public Library wiki. All of these all excellent ways to communicate with the public.
Helen is leaving PLCMC and moving to Columbus, Ohio to take a new job. However, there is a Learning 2.1 on the "23 Things" page for those of you game enough to keep on learning. I know I will give the exercises a try and keep my skills up-to-date.
[edit] Summary
In class we learned about Library 2.0 and the various definitions technology leaders gave to this term. I like Jack Maness' definition which describes Library 2.0 as having four essential elements:
- "user centered"
- "provides a multi-media environment"
- "It is socially rich"
- "communally active" (Courtney,2007)
"Learning 2.0 and the 23 Things" embraces the four elements of Library 2.0 and brings these concepts alive for the user. Michael Casey discusses how Library 2.0 is all about embracing new technology and reaching new users. (Stephens,2006)
What I have learned through this report, is that self-learning is effective and cost-effective. I already knew that to some degree as I am in a self-learning program myself. You get what you put into it as the staff at each of the libraries who participated in the "23 Things" will tell you. The blogging you do is a journal of your weekly progress and as you write and communicate with your online social network you really do "connect". What you get out of the collaborative technology, goes back out to the world. Back to the workplace and online learning. The customers in the participating libraries are receiving better service from more knowledgeable library staff. Staff who can say: Check out "LibraryThing". You'll like it. Or, yes, "I can answer your question about RSS newsreaders". Because of the "23 Things" many library staff have empowered themselves to reach beyond their comfort zone of technical knowledge and try something new.
[edit] References
Abrams,S. "43 Things I Might To Do This Year", Information Outlook, Feb. 2006, Available from: <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWE/is_2_10/ai_n16133338> [November 29, 2007]
Blowers, H. & Reed, L. "The C's of Our Sea Change: Plans for Training Staff, from Core Competencies to LEARNING 2.0, Information Today 27,2, Available from: <http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/feb07/Blowers_Reed.shtml> [November 29, 2007]
Brookover, S. "Why We Blog", Library Journal, November, 15, 2007, Available from: <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6497263.html?q=wiki> [November 22, 2007]
Ishizuka, K. "Come Blog With Me", School Library Journal September 1, 2006, Available from: <http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6367050.html> [November 22, 2007]
Stephens, M. 8/15/06 ALATechSource Available from <http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/2006/08/steal-this-idea-learning-20-at-plcmc.html Steal This Idea: Learning 2.0 At PLCMC> [November 22, 2007]
[edit] Images Used
- Picture of Grand Lake by enanny.blogspot.com uploaded by Helene Blowers to flickr.
- Picture of Learning 2.0 is Golden by francesislearning.blogspot.com uploaded by Helene Blowers to flickr.
- Picture of Learning 2.0 is 2 Much Fun by zapmamma.blogspot.com uploaded by Helene Blowers to flickr.
- Picture of Bookcover for social software in libraries by Eiseldora from flickr.
[edit] Resources and Web-based Materials
For more information contact: car06s@fsu.edu
