Thing #9: Lifelong Learning

Playtime 2.0 isn’t just about Web 2.0 and how to apply it to the Library. It’s also about encouraging you to be brave about exploring new technologies and to recognize the importance of lifelong learning and how it can help you adapt more easily to change.

Exploration requires a spirit of curiosity, open-mindedness, and playfulness. Lifelong learning requires the same spirit, but also a commitment to being personally responsible for your own education. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know, just be brave enough to play and find out more.

Discover:

Take some time to read the articles and visit the sites listed below. They will help you think about your own attitude, why exploring is important, and how you can approach your own development as a person and a library professional.

- Yes, And (Creative Outlet Labs)
- Three Hard Things (Library Journal, 6/15/2007)
- 15 Steps to Lifelong Learning

Do:

Let's take a look at some of the free learning resources that are available to you.
Two of the best are WebJunction and OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries).

WebJunction offers an extensive course catalog
Most courses are free thanks to the generosity of the Illinois State Library.
Most of the courses are self-paced so that you can do them on your own schedule. You can see from the list that they cover an array of subjects from Application-specific classes to Interpersonal skills.
If you haven't registered for WebJunction, do that now so you can take advantage of the courses and the other resources available on WebJunction. Be sure to declare your affiliation with Illinois to take advantage of the free classes!
While you're still logged in, browse around some of these other resources. WebJuntion Illinois aspires to be the central repository for all library-related things in Illinois. Are they accomplishing that goal?
Follow this link to register for Webjunction: http://il.webjunction.org.
In the "My Account" box in the upper right corner, click on the [Create Account] link.

OPAL is another great resource.
OPAL is an international collaborative effort by libraries and other organizations to provide web-based programs and training for library users and library staff members.
These live events are held in online rooms where participants can interact via voice-over-IP, text chatting, synchronized browsing, and other functions.
Everyone is welcome to participate in OPAL programs. Usually there is no need to register. Nearly all OPAL programs are offered free of charge to participants.
Examples of OPAL public online programs include book discussion programs, interviews, special events, library training, memoir writing workshops, and virtual tours of special digital library collections.
Take a look at the variety of programming that is offered. Note that on this page, you can subscribe to receive email notices of upcoming programs.
The chronological list of all upcoming programs is here.

In addition to these resources, ongoing workshops, seminars and programs are offered by the Illinois State Library, DuPage Library System and each of the other Library Systems in the state. All of these offerings are aggregated on the L2 (Library Learning) Event Calendar.
The Library Learning (L2) calendar is a statewide calendar for events and continuing education taking place in Illinois. Keeping all statewide events in a single calendar makes registeing for programs as easy as clicking one link.
If you haven't already registered on L2, do that now and be sure to note your affiliation with DuPage Library System.
Follow this link to register on L2: http://www.librarylearning.info/.
Click on the "Register" link in the blue box at the top of the screen.

Now, let's write your "Thing #9: Lifelong Learning" blog post

Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right), log in and create a new post.
Use "Thing #9: Lifelong Learning" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write about:
- what course piqued your interest on WebJunction
- If several people are interested in the same courses, it might be possible to reserve a meeting room and take the course as a group. Would you be interested in doing that?

You're all finished with Thing #9.
You've learned a bit about lifelong learning and browsed the course catalog at WebJunction and the list of upcoming programs at OPAL. You've registered for an account on WebJuntion and browsed some of the other resources available to you as a member. You've also registered for an account on the L2 Event Calendar.
We hope that you've been inspired to continue your independent learning after your Playtime 2.0 experience.

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
Watch this presentation by the people who originated the Library 2.0 learning experience, the training specialists at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners (http://www.plcmc.org/public/learning/player.html) from PLCMC. Note that you don't have to create a learning contract at the end of this presentation, but why not?
1. Make sure you have headphones or speakers attached to your computer.
2. Open up the 7 & 1/2 Habits online tutorial and view the online tutorial.
3. As you watch and listen, write down which habit among the 7 & 1/2 that is easiest for you and which is hardest. Use your blog to post your thoughts about lifelong learning.

Have fun! It's never too late to become a lifelong learner.

We are approaching the end of this journey! Good for you for hanging in there thus far. Next week, in Thing #10, we'll "get local" and explore the Library's website and some of the Library's databases. C'mon back!