Library Learning 2.0 for Media Clerks

We are now in our third week of learning about Web 2.0 tools, applications, and ways to use them for our own productivity and in the library with our staff and students.

So far? Blogging, RSS, Technorati, Flickr, Image Generators, and lots of exploration ...a TON of learning going on; discovery, laughter, some frustration, some jubilant outcries, and some chaos. What fun.

You can visit our path and progress here. Take some time to browse, see what we are up to, visit a few blogs, and maybe even leave a comment or two.

The World Just Got a Lot Smaller

As I ponder the possibilities in 2008, my first task is to let go of the remorse for things left undone in 2007. On the bright side, my to-do list is already populated for the new year. As I look forward to the new year, I am excited about the prospects -- and all of those prospects all revolve around education – more precisely, learning. My learning journey.

I am 54 years old and I feel like I’m just entering a new realm…again. The world continues to shrink – I am amazed that I can participate in world conversations via the Internet. My goals, this year, are to become an active participant in that world and create some personal learning networks. But, I won’t go alone. I plan on taking lots of people with me, as this is too big of a thing to keep to oneself.

Learning is my keyword for 2008. Not just my own, but I am fortunate enough to be in education – not as a teacher, but as one who can influence. Maybe that's even better.

Mission: Organziation...Simply

As I sit here pondering why my clock has been geared up to hyper-speed, my plans for the last week of the break are to set myself up to finally be organized (after the jaunt to Vegas, of course). My solution to chaos, in the past, has been to take on "one more thing" -- somehow thinking that the added pressure will force me into increased productivity. It has generally worked in the past, but I'm finding that my energy and creativity reserves are dangerously compromised anymore. My goal is to simplify; do less and, hopefully, do it better. ...at home and in the library.

This year I am going to set up a new planner system. I have stumbled upon a great, new resource to help jumpstart my organization mission -- I hope that you will find it useful, too.

In this marvelous world of evolution to open-source productivity tools, this is exactly what I need for the New Year. There's tools for everything from health, work, and creativity, all the way to special projects, scrapbooking, time management, and technology.

The D*I*Y Planner is a system of do-it-yourself, printable forms in several different sizes and layouts for professional and personal use. This system was created and is maintained by Douglas Johnston, and it is released under the terms of a Creative Commons Non-Commercial No-Derivatives License.

Here's to a new year of productivity (and simplification)!

Photo attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/akearns72/2143598133/

Happy, Happy, Happy Break!

I hope you all have a happy and restful break with family and friends. I'm so looking forward to reading, watching basketball, and playing with new tech toys -- and, spending Christmas with my kids. Bliss.

Hm-m-m...on the reading table for the break:

• The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink
• The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
• The Book of Lost Things: A Novel by John Connolly
• The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

I'm so looking forward to spending Wednesdays with all of you doing our PST when we return in 2008. It will be a good time. Merry Christmas to all!