Before I began the course, I paid lip service to many of the online tools therein. Facebook? Twitter? Fine—for someone else. I claimed to see the value, but I wasn’t on board. 23 Things challenged me to “get on the bus.” Knowledge may be a good thing, but it becomes a great thing when coupled with experience.
23 Things was my unlimited travel ticket to online opportunities. Each of the stops gave me something: a tool, appreciation, knowledge, and yes, occasionally, a bit of frustration. I am now better equipped for the 21st century and its digital natives. Now I know what I didn’t know about online tools. Now I know that I don’t know nearly enough but I am much closer!
What did I like least? Twitter. It is not my chosen communication style. It is, however, a great tool for pushing breaking information, and I can see using it in a professional context.
What else? Not crazy about RSS and feed readers—but I so want to be!! I think my experience with Google Reader reveals more about me than about the product. I was like a kid in a candy shop: oh I want to this…and this…and this…and…suddenly, information avalanche! The lesson: be selective in what one follows.
What surprised me? That I actually like Facebook. I love the ability to connect with other people on various levels. I’m getting to know better people that I thought I already knew. It’s another great tool for libraries to maintain contact with interested users and the post information about their programs.
What else? De.li.ci.ous!!! I honestly heard people talk about it, wax poetic about how much they love/use/rely on it. I didn’t know what it was, but the instant that I started using it, I could see its value. What a great organizational tool! I’m looking forward to weeding my hundreds of bookmarks and creating my own, organized web reference lists. Social bookmarking also has the added benefit of being a viable research tool—searching by subject to find websites in a more refined universe than Google.
If I had to choose one favorite, it would be the online conferencing module. I had only a modest view of what was out there—I’d attended some online meetings and a couple of Sirsi/Dynix seminars, but I hadn’t connected the dots per se. Attending conferences virtually in real time or afterward through archived sessions is an idea whose time has come. The volume of online educational opportunities is extraordinary and often free. I want to avail myself of continuing education opportunities, and being able to do so on my own schedule is a godsend.
Finally, my hat is off to Claudia in Atchison. Her creative streak shines through her 23 Things projects. Her virtual library tour was terrific! Her poem about 23Things was hilarious yet true. Her Animoto slide shows were well planned. I must say that the runners-up were those who made videos of their children and cats.
Where do we go from here? To the public! My excitement about what I was learning throughout 23 Things was infectious. I found myself telling people about it as though I were proselytizing—with a woman in my water aerobics class, with friends at church, with my sister long distance, through my screencast of measuring the family cradle. I had little idea of the myriad tools available, and I suspect that is true for many people. We can introduce them to these tools, and teach them to use them.
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