[MNASIS-L] Call for Participants: Five Weeks to a Social Library

[Janet Arth]

fyi...

We are pleased to present Five Weeks to a Social Library 
(<http://www.sociallibraries.com/course/>http://www.sociallibraries.com/course/), 
the first free, grassroots, completely online course devoted to teaching 
librarians about social software and how to use it in their libraries. The 
course was developed to provide a free, comprehensive, and social online 
learning opportunity for librarians who do not otherwise have access to 
conferences or continuing education and who would benefit greatly from 
learning about social software. The course will be taught using a variety 
of social software tools so that the participants acquire experience using 
the tools while they are taking part in the class. The course will make use 
of synchronous online communication, with one or two weekly Webcasts and 
many IM or Skype chat sessions made available to students each week. By the 
end of the course, each student will develop a proposal for implementing a 
specific social software tool in their library.

Five Weeks to a Social Library will take place between February 12 and 
March 17, 2007 and will be limited to forty participants. However, course 
content will be freely viewable to interested parties and all live Webcasts 
will be archived for later viewing.

We are currently accepting applications for participants in the course. The 
application process is designed to ensure that the course will benefit 
those librarians who have the most to gain from learning about social 
software and who would not otherwise have access to conferences or 
continuing education. If you are interested in learning how to use and 
implement social software tools at your library, please consider applying. 
The course will cover the following topics:
    * Blogs
    * RSS
    * Wikis
    * Social Networking Software and SecondLife
    * Flickr
    * Social Bookmarking Software
    * Selling Social Software @ Your Library


Participation Requirements

Each participant will take part in a weekly small group chat (either via 
VoIP or IM) with four other participants and a facilitator and will have 
the opportunity to chat with social software experts throughout the week. 
They will also attend at least one of two live Webcasts offered weekly. 
There will be weekly readings, podcasts, and Webcasts for the users to 
peruse and discuss. Each user will have a blog on which to post reflections 
on what they are learning and will be able to read and comment on other 
participants' blogs. The final assignment for the course will involve 
developing a proposal for implementing a social software tool at their library.

Applicants must be self-directed, passionate about using social software to 
benefit their library, and willing and able to invest the time required to 
take part in the course. While it is not necessary to have had exposure to 
social software tools in the past, general comfort in the online medium is 
strongly recommended.

Users must have the following items to participate:
    * An AOL Instant Messenger account (free).
    * A Skype account (free).
    * Windows 2000 or XP or Mac OS 10.3 or later.
    * A recent version of IE, Firefox, or Safari.
    * A headset or microphone that connects to your computer (not sure if 
we will be using this -- we'll keep you posted).
    * A reliable and relatively fast Internet connection.
    * While broadband is not required, it is strongly recommended as it may 
not be possible to fully take part in the course without it.
    * Time to invest in learning, discussion and reflection.


Application Procedure

Please email the following (as plain text, Word, or PDF) to 
<mailto:sociallibrary at gmail.com>sociallibrary at gmail.com by December 1, 2006:
    * Full name of applicant.
    * E-mail address of applicant.
    * Web-site and/or blog URL of applicant (if applicable).
    * AIM screenname.
    * Institutional affiliation.
    * Job title.
    * Brief biographical information (under 150 words).
    * List of conferences, trainings, or other continuing education 
opportunities attended over past three years (please include name, location 
and month/year of each event).
    * Describe how your employer supports your professional development (in 
terms of money, time-off, time for Webcasts/professional development 
reading at work, etc.).
    * List any social software tools you have used.
    * Describe what you hope to get out of the course (500 words or less).
    * Describe how you think your library would benefit from your 
participation in the course (500 words or less).

Any questions about the application process may be addressed to the 
Planning Committee at <mailto:sociallibrary at gmail.com>sociallibrary at gmail.com.

Application Review: Applications will be reviewed by the planning committee.

Planning Committee:
    * Michelle Boule
    * Karen Coombs
    * Amanda Etches-Johnson
    * Meredith Farkas
    * Ellyssa Kroski
    * Dorothea Salo

Key Dates:
    * Deadline for Applications: Friday, December 1, 2006.
    * Notification of Acceptance: January 1, 2007.
-- 
Michelle Boule
Social Sciences Librarian
University of Houston
713-743-9776
<mailto:mlboule at uh.edu>mlboule at uh.edu
AIM: librarianboule