Thing #2

Just as Minnesota launched 23 Things, John Blyberg posted Library 2.0 Debased. Now if you only read the title or the first paragraph you might get the sense that he is shifting his support from Library 2.0 --- not so. Blyberg is simply reminding library staff to adopt these tools purposefully, not just as hype.

Maybe it is because library funding is tight or librarians are often perfectionists, but I get the sense that some believe we should only offer programs or services that are proven to be 100% successful. Certainly that pressure is palpable at the regional level. If SELCO delays implementation to identify major pitfalls – then we are holding back library innovation but if we spotlight something new – then we are wasting time. The reactions when we launched the SELCO Librarian were a good example of this dichotomy. There were some who cheered our blogging venture and complimented us by immediately adding our site to their RSS feeds. Others felt this was a waste of regional time and one reason some of us only posted long after work hours so as to be seen as something “extra” in our work life and not the norm.

23 Things is all about trying something new in a safe and supported environment and (dare I say it) enjoying online learning. I’m personally participating in the 23 Things program and all members of the SELCO staff are being encouraged to participate. As of this posting 437 individuals have around Minnesota have registered with 23 Things, including 60 (14%) from SELCO/SELS. How exciting!

We may not adapt anything from our experience but, as Stephen Abrams stated, we can expect change simply because of our exploration. As David Lee King wrote: ”If one 2.0 project doesn’t work as expected, that doesn’t mean that “library 2.0 didn’t work” as a whole … not every blog, wiki, IM reference service, Second Life project, or podcast that your library creates will be a blazing success. Some will be dismal failures. And that’s great! Why? Because you learned something, and you can take that knowledge and move on to the next project.”