NEWS
 Volume 1 No.11
April 16, 2008
In This Issue
Thing 23.
Last Minute Hints
Finishers!
Prize News
Share Your Experience
Quick Links

Previous Newsletters

Today's the day!
Finish all 23 Things On a Stick, blog about them, and complete the evaluation in Thing 23 by midnight tonight to be eligible for the flash drive and other fabulous prizes! You can do it!

runawaytrain had a great idea that we are using here--a poll to find people who want to help out on the next 23. You can volunteer to help out in either a new round of this version of 23 Things On a Stick and/or to help create a "More On a Stick" program timed for fall or winter. You can volunteer here.

We will continue to collect any hints you have at [email protected], too.
  Thing 23.  Final Thoughts


You liked it; you really, really liked it!

There are wonderful, thoughtful comments on many of the Thing 23 posts. Everyone learned things and had fun (mostly) while they did. We call that a success!

Here are some of the comments:

Great job 23 Things creators! I loved this format and have learned a lot. I hope to see more things like this in the future. Thanks again...runawaytrain

I think this is one of the most rewarding things I could of done, for my library, for my library system, and just for my life. I have allowed myself the time to explore all the online items that I wanted to...but didn't think I should take the time to do it...
PioneerBookworm123

I have learned many new Library 2.0 applications as a result of the 23 Things experience. And I feel more empowered to actually use the ones I only vaguely knew about before, like Flickr, wikis, blogging, and RSS feeds. StickyThings

I was the only person at my branch who participated in 23 things. I've been sharing what I've learned with coworkers and I know one of them has started using the web site to learn some of these things. Half of 46

Here's my one-sentence takeaway: I learned more in the last two months than in the eight years since I left library school. And you can quote me on that. Adventures of a Knowledge Nomad

I accidentally learned I was having so much fun. Lacy's stick items


This project has been fantastic. I learned so much because I had committed to spend the time on these Web 2.0 tools. I feel that now that I have reached the end of the project, I want more content to explore. The timing of this project was great.
Media Matters

I must say this was quite an experience for me. I think it was a great way to learn Library 2.0. It took me out of my comfort zone and made me do things I probably would not have done on my own. I had a friend who took an online Library 2.0 class. They met a few times and it was done. They didn't get to do all of the hands on stuff like we did here. You really can't learn it unless you do it. I liked that it was self-paced and I appreciate being able to participate. 23Skidoo

...I've also changed my impression of social media. Previously, I would have dismissed social media as not for me--or for young adults...One thing that would have helped me is if I had a co-worker who was doing this program at the same time. I was the only one in my library participating in 23 Things. I would have enjoyed sharing ideas with my work group. 23 Things & 3 Birds

What has changed for me is my thinking that ONLY Computer Literate People should attempt this. If I can master some of these Web TOOLS, anyone can AND should ! My favorites were the BIG LABS stuff. I thought I was done with this Blog yesterday . But here I am, already doing some more editing.Sharon@23

My experience with Library 2.0 has been great. Sometimes a little frustrating but a very good learning based experience. I really think that this self-paced course was worth the effort and the time. I hope that those who didn't complete it would continue to finish the program anyway. 23ingonaick

I've come away with some very valuable knowledge. I do know that learning each of these tools was not the primary point of the challenge. The point really was to expand the way we think and interact. Thank you for that opportunity! Sandals and Sand

23 things on a stick was the single most effective and energizing learning experience I have had to date. fatenarley

Geekmeup23's final post sums up her learning as an Oscar speech! Funny and to the point about how much of a team effort this is!

Describe the program and what I have gained in one word?!? Hmm....
confidence-building
empowering
invigorating
evolving
abundant
blossoming
life-changing
See you online in the library! library goddess

We could add dozens--hundreds?--more comments, but that would take the fun out of it for you. Click on the Finishers' Blogs and read what your fellow learners had to say about the experience!

We will use your suggestions and ideas as the Multitype Systems move forward on a "More on a Stick" project timed for fall or winter. One thing that came through loud and clear is the desire to connect with other participants--virtually and in real life. That is a challenge to meet in a new 23 Things. You can volunteer to help develop that new set of Things.

So, stay tuned for more of 23 Things On a Stick!

Posted by Ann WS

Last Minute Hints
Some news about tools in 23 Things On a Stick.

Blogger
  • Blogger has added tutorial videos on YouTube on how to use some of the Blogger features. Only a few are up, but they may be helpful.
  • Blogger in Draft is a version of Blogger with experimental features in try-out before they are published for all Bloggers. The Blogger in Draft blog is the place for the latest news on new features. The adventurous among you can log into Blogger at draft.blogger.com instead of www.blogger.com. The blueprint logo shows you're in the right place. Try out the features and let us know how they work. Chances are, we will add a Thing about the best ones in More On a Stick.
Flickr
  • Flickr has added video to its site. Flickr Pro (paid subscription) users can upload short 90 second videos. Not everyone is happy about this new feature!
  • A lot of "the cool kids" at PLA had MOO cards as their business/contact cards. These small (1"x3") photo cards use your Flickr (or other photo site that cooperates with MOO) to produce 100 cards for $19.99+shipping. Nice quality and very fun. MOO prints other paper stuff, too. I have used WinkFlash for printing things. I ordered postcards with this photo--nice quality and they came in 3 days.
  • If you plan to use Flickr regularly, consider downloading the Flickr Uploader. It makes the job quick and easy.
Bloglines
Here are new features for Bloglines. Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep up.

Minitex Webinar
Teaching Old Services New Tricks: Integrating Web 2.0 trends into everyday services and tools
Michelle Jacobs, Emerging Technologies and Web Coordinator at UCLA, discusses and presents various Web 2.0 tools and how they can be used to enhance current collections and services. Technologies will range from learning how to keep track of new tech trends to easy to download applications, to actual application design.
  • Monday, May 5 - 3:00-4:00 PM
  • Tuesday, May 6 - 2:00-3:00 PM
  • Friday, May 9 - 1:00-2:00 PM
Google
Keeping up with Google changes and features is a fulltime job.
For example, did you notice the GoogleDocs Revisions tab disappeared? You now go to the File menu--Revisions to track the changes to your document. The Save tab has re-appeared after many complaints from users. There are a bunch of other new Doc features, too. Google has a whole slate of blogs to help keep you informed. Here are two:
Second Life
Rumor has it that one of the multitype directors is really into Second Life as a result of 23 Things.
ELM Productivity Tools
This Thing generated a lot of comments--and frustrations. New instructions for setting up an alert in RSS readers are 23 Things News Issue 8.

YouTube
Everyone is getting into the act! Check out the brand new American Library Association YouTube channel. You can even subscribe to it. Sample videos:
And, just because it's fun, this local library video pointed out by The Library Ninja:
If you need inspiration to make your own video, watch the 2007 & 2008 winners of Information Today's InfoTubey contest. Clever, fun, & informative.

Posted by Ann WS

Lots of Finishers! Congratulations!
This is the completion incentive--cool!
flash driveThe bad weather that caused some school cancellations and the desire to spend the weekend cosied up to your computers gave many people a chance to push on to the finish!

Congratulations to all  who finished and blogged about the 23. Here is the list of Finishers.

Think you should be on the list? If you did not do the evaluation, we don't have a record of your completion. There are a few mysterious finishers who did the evaluation, but did not put email, blog name, or other identifier, so, who are you?

Let us know before April 29 if you think you should be on the list. [email protected]
 Prize News
This is the incentive for all finishers--cool!
Once the names are drawn for the big prizes on April 29, everyone on this list will get an announcement with the list of winners.

Last week's News had a list of the fabulous prizes!

Each Multitype has plans for how the finishers' incentives will be distributed. Watch for separate announcements about that from your Multitype region.
Share Your Experience
The 23 Things On a Stick Team is proposing programs at MLA  & MEMO annual conferences. These "show & tell" sessions will discuss how participants use the Web 2.0 tools in their libraries and media centers.
 
If you are interested in participating, email Patricia Post, CMLE Director, at [email protected].
Thank you all for participating. We know you made a big commitment of time and energy to this project.

We truly appreciate all the comments that recognize the big task of getting 23 Things On a Stick up and running and maintaining it for the duration. It was worth every hour, every frustration, and every broken link to bring such a program to Minnesota's library staff who then enthusiastically embraced the program and made it a phenomenon.

'Til next time!

Sincerely,
 
The 23 Things On a Stick Team
Patricia (CMLE), Ann WS (Metronet), Linda (NCLC), Ruth (NLLN), Robin (SAMMIE), Ann H (SELS), & Nancy (SMILE)
The Minnesota Multicounty Multitype Library Systems