[MNASIS-L] Press Release: 23 Things on a Stick

[Deanna Sylte, Admin. Asst.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

23 Things On a Stick Program To Launch in January
ST.PAUL, Minnesota (January 7, 2008) --Minnesota's seven multicounty,
multitype library systems (multitypes) will launch a twelve-week 23
Things on a Stick: A Library Learning 2.0 Program online on January 20,
2008. Staff in academic, school, public and special libraries, as well
as members of library Governing and Advisory Boards are invited to
participate in this fun, self-paced program that encourages participants
to experiment with various Web 2.0 tools including photo editing, wikis,
blogs, RSS, and more. Those who complete all 23 Things On a Stick within
twelve weeks will win a completion prize. 

This program will be the focus of  breakout sessions on January 28th at
the MEMO Midwinter Conference in Alexandria, MN. Attendees will have the
opportunity to learn more about the program and set up their blogs. It
is not necessary to attend Midwinter to participate in 23 Things On a
Stick. All details for participation and completion will be available
online after January 20th at www.23thingsonastick.blogspot.com. 

The 23 Things are online activities that encourage participants to
experiment and learn about new and emerging technologies that are
reshaping the context of information on the Internet today. The
activities are hands-on with experiential exercises, short readings and
discovery work. Each Thing can take as little as one hour or as much
time as you'd like to give it. The Minnesota Voluntary Certification
Program has approved this program for 12 contact hours to meet public
service and technology competencies. Continuing Education Units will be
available to all participants as well. Early endorsements of this
program include but are not limited to, MLA, MEMO, MINITEX and State
Library Services. Others are expected to add their support and will be
mentioned on the 23 Things on a Stick blog. 
Participants who wish to receive the completion incentive must register
their blogs (Thing 1) by February 15 and complete all 23 Things (and
blog about each one) by April 16, 2008 (National Library Week). Receipt
of the completion incentive enters participants in a statewide drawing
for additional prizes.

According to Ann Walker Smalley, Metronet Director, "23 Things on a
Stick offers ideas to 'jump start' your learning. We hope you will share
your ideas on how these Web 2.0 tools can be used in your libraries and
media centers. We have used many Web 2.0 tools to design this program,
including Blogger, Flickr, YouTube, PBWiki and Bloglines, which we
learned as we went. You can learn them too!" Participants are encouraged
to work with others in their libraries or regions and to share their
insights and discoveries either through the participant blogs or in
person.

This program is the Minnesota twist on the 23 Things: Library Learning
2.0 program, developed by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of
Charlotte & Mecklenberg County. Library organizations across the country
have used the 23 Things concept to encourage staff to learn and use
these Web 2.0 tools. The directors and staff of the seven Minnesota
Multicounty Multitype Library Systems are the core of the 23 Things On a
Stick team, with additional coaches available across the state. This
group has worked together to develop  23 Things On a Stick and to
customize it for Minnesota library staff. This group will track
participants' progress as shown in the individual blogs and provide
helpful hints and encouraging words. 
 
The multitype library systems respond to the needs of Minnesota
librarians by providing  library support services, including continuing
education. The multitype systems believe that knowledgeable library
staffs are better able to meet the needs of their library users. The
multitypes connect library staff in all types of libraries to
professional and staff development opportunities and look forward to
broad participation in this exciting learning program. 

Contact:
Ann Walker-Smalley, Metronet Director
ann at metronet.lib.mn.us
23 Things On a Stick blog is online at www.23thingsonastick.blogspot.com