Forgot to mention my favorite things I learned about (I think that was part of the assignment...)
Anyway, I really liked discovering Goodreads. That thing is awesome. The only bad thing is I'm trying to remember all these books I've read, and so far I've only got about 300 rated. I started keeping track of what I check out from the library sometime last year, and my list is up to 2000. So I definitely need to work on that.
Also, covering some of the research databases was super helpful, as well. I didn't know I could look up things like how many coffee shops are in certain zip codes. I very seldom get reference questions like that, but it's good to know that that resource is available to our patrons. I've been using some of the other databases (like the encyclopedias, journal articles, etc.) for years. I'm glad I have a better knowledge of these services that the library offers.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Last Thing
I've really enjoyed 23 Things. I had a basic knowledge about almost everything we covered (and I had a lot of knowledge about a few things) but it was nice to get a little bit more experience with some of these sites and programs.
I have heard some stodgy people grumble a bit about having to learn about these things, yet they aren't allowed to use some of them while they are working (like facebook.) Well, get over it. You need to know new things to be an effective librarian (or clerk, or whatever.) We probably wouldn't have hired you if you hated books and never read, but that doesn't mean you get to veg out at the desk with your favorite novel, either. Some people just like to complain, I guess. I can tell you that 23 Things will help all of us provide better service to our patrons in the future. Also, I have an online friend who lives in Pennsylvania and works for a library system up there. I have been telling him a bit about 23 Things and he thinks his library system could really benefit from it, as well. I will be sending along the link I found on the 23 Things homepage that details the original project.
In many cases, I do feel that 23 Things was time well spent. I like hands on, self-guided learning better than going to a training session to learn this stuff. I think that the program could have been adjusted a bit for some of our employees, though. As a clerk, I should have basic knowledge of most everything covered in 23 Things- there isn't always a reference person at the desk and I should be able to handle stuff on my own, in some cases. However, our pages have had to participate in every week's "thing" and this poses a few problems. First, finding "back time" is hard for anyone at our branch. It's especially difficult on the pages. Clerks and LAs can do a bit of this stuff up at the desk (the blogging part or perhaps browsing the research databases) but the pages don't have that privilege. Second, if a page was to attempt answering a reference question- particularly the kind encountered when we covered the library's research databases- he or she would get into trouble. I know this both from secondhand and personal experience. So maybe there should be a different set of "things" for the pages to know about. Or maybe they shouldn't count toward a branch's completion goal. I don't know. It just seemed a little unfair for them. That isn't to say that they didn't enjoy and appreciate the experience, though.
I definitely think our patrons would benefit from a similar program. I know that at our branch the number and types of computer classes we offer is a bit limited because of staffing and space. It would be great to see mini-classes offered to patrons on the subjects we covered in 23 Things. Right now we basically just do internet basics, computer basics, and Microsoft Word. Maybe we could have a traveling band of 23 Things teachers come to the branches and offer classes on subjects like social networking, research databases, and reader's advisory tools.
I have heard some stodgy people grumble a bit about having to learn about these things, yet they aren't allowed to use some of them while they are working (like facebook.) Well, get over it. You need to know new things to be an effective librarian (or clerk, or whatever.) We probably wouldn't have hired you if you hated books and never read, but that doesn't mean you get to veg out at the desk with your favorite novel, either. Some people just like to complain, I guess. I can tell you that 23 Things will help all of us provide better service to our patrons in the future. Also, I have an online friend who lives in Pennsylvania and works for a library system up there. I have been telling him a bit about 23 Things and he thinks his library system could really benefit from it, as well. I will be sending along the link I found on the 23 Things homepage that details the original project.
In many cases, I do feel that 23 Things was time well spent. I like hands on, self-guided learning better than going to a training session to learn this stuff. I think that the program could have been adjusted a bit for some of our employees, though. As a clerk, I should have basic knowledge of most everything covered in 23 Things- there isn't always a reference person at the desk and I should be able to handle stuff on my own, in some cases. However, our pages have had to participate in every week's "thing" and this poses a few problems. First, finding "back time" is hard for anyone at our branch. It's especially difficult on the pages. Clerks and LAs can do a bit of this stuff up at the desk (the blogging part or perhaps browsing the research databases) but the pages don't have that privilege. Second, if a page was to attempt answering a reference question- particularly the kind encountered when we covered the library's research databases- he or she would get into trouble. I know this both from secondhand and personal experience. So maybe there should be a different set of "things" for the pages to know about. Or maybe they shouldn't count toward a branch's completion goal. I don't know. It just seemed a little unfair for them. That isn't to say that they didn't enjoy and appreciate the experience, though.
I definitely think our patrons would benefit from a similar program. I know that at our branch the number and types of computer classes we offer is a bit limited because of staffing and space. It would be great to see mini-classes offered to patrons on the subjects we covered in 23 Things. Right now we basically just do internet basics, computer basics, and Microsoft Word. Maybe we could have a traveling band of 23 Things teachers come to the branches and offer classes on subjects like social networking, research databases, and reader's advisory tools.
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