Tech Trek 2.0 continues

I'm heartened by the news that so many of us are taking part in CCPL's Tech Trek 2.0. By the latest count, about 110 staff members have signed up and around 64 are actively taking part. If you're one the ones who hasn't started yet, don't fret, there's time. The first three quests go quickly and the 4th, while a little more challenging, can be completed successfully. Have questions? Take a look at the blog roll on the side of the Tech Trek blog. All those folks can help you and you can contact any of the Web 2.0 committee members. Susan Bednar reports that she's getting lots of calls and emails and she's happy to help.

And speaking of the blog roll, it's great fun to read your blogs! Keep writing.

Lost in the world of TheBig Read, I had a chance encounter yesterday. Maddy Wells called me from the RAYA desk, asking if I had time to talk to a woman who is traveling the country taking to people about reading. But of course!

Sonya Worthy, backpack on back, is talking and blogging about books and people and the connections made between the two. While visiting cities, she stops in public libraries to ask librarians about their work, special projects of the library and what they like to read. She works for a bank, but was so compelled to do this, that she's taken two months off. She captures, permission granted, pictures of people reading wherever she comes across them. It's an interesting quest and even more so that it's all her own.
www.peoplereading.blogspot.com
She notes that she's behind in posting, finding it hard to keep up while on the road.

Tech Trek, Day 1

Today is the launch of Tech Trek 2.0 and I have to say, I'm impressed with the blog. I can say that without fear of sounding like I'm blowing my own horn, as I didn't have my hands in the design. It looks great and I appreciate the work that the Web 2.0 committee members have put into it. (Susan Bednar, Amanda Holling, Jennifer Lively, Melissa Christakos, Kathy Sanders, Nancy Wilson)

So, start Treking! And if you are toying with the idea of starting and just haven't gotten around to making a commitment, that's OK too. When you do take the plunge, be sure to let Susan Bednar know so she can track your progress, as you make your way through the 12 quests to earn your MP3. player.

Join in Tech Trek 2.0

Big news here, that you received earlier this week via email. Just to reinforce:

Connect Communicate Play Learn and get an MP3 Player!
Welcome to Charleston County Public Library's Tech Trek 2.0! During Staff Day 2007, we enjoyed Michael Stephens' presentation on Library 2.0. He told us about user-centered technologies, such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, and RSS feeds. Michael feels "Libraries do need to focus on emerging trends, tech or otherwise, to be nimble and viable."

Staff Day left us wanting to learn more about these emerging web technologies, both for professional and personal use. We have adopted and modified the successful online program, Learning 2.0, from the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC to create CCPL's Tech Trek 2.0. This voluntary, self-discovery program consists of 12 Quests. As you complete the Quests through exploration and PLAY, you'll gain an understanding of new, exciting technologies available free on the Internet.

From August 13 to November 2, 2007 come along as we learn about instant messaging, blogging, photosharing, social software, and more. To help you explore these topics, each quest consists of links to websites, tutorials, information, and simple discovery exercises. Each Quest is designed to take about a week to complete and two Quests are included as "catch-up" weeks. All eligible staff who complete this program by November 2nd will receive recognition and an MP3 player!

This is a self-paced program, so you should not feel rushed or overwhelmed. To monitor your progress, we will ask you to set up a blog in Quest 2 and post your thoughts and experiences for each quest. You may blog anonymously, but all blog addresses need to be sent to Susan Bednar at bednars@ccpl.org.

If you are thinking about participating in the online program just email me at bednars@ccpl.org so I can get a preliminary count by Wednesday, August 8th.

You'll receive more details about Tech Trek 2.0 including the link by email no later than Friday, August 10th.

And always remember...Have fun and Connect Communicate Play Learn!

If you have any questions don't hesitate to call @ 805-6826.

Thanks,

Tech Trek Committee

Please join us!

People who read

In case you missed, there was a great article in the Business section of Monday's The Post and Courier, page 15E, entitled "People love to read also make great workers."

It quotes Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, speaking recently to a group of Kansas City business and philanthropy leaders. "The key is reading for pleasure," Gioia said. "A person who reads is more likely to engage in every form of civic behavior we can measure." How does that relate to the workplace? "Reading requites focused, linear attention, the ability to not be distracted. Reading teaches information, syntax, vocabulary...It nourishes curiosity and rewards intellect."

Gioia is able to state this, among other claims, bu virtue of the study "The Arts and Civic Engagement." Such studies are why the NEA was able to command federal funding for The Big Read. Think about it. The federal government is paying for a program to encourage reading. This is important. We value reading, by the very nature of what we do and where we work, but it is important for us to realize that reading is not just an individual pleasure and joy, even though that's very much the case. We should also make the case more strongly that we facilitate not only the cultural and recreational life of our communities, but the intellectual and economic health as well.

I want to note that this article is the Human Resources section. It says that it's revealing to ask job applicants about their reading. Ask if they have a library card. I sit in on lots (!) of interviews and I know that we do not ask these types f questions across the board. Why? It is that we worry about being too "bookish?" Too self-promoting?