About

The CTLS 23 Things Challenge is based on the work of Helene Blowers, currently the director of digital strategy at Columbus (OH) Metropolitan Library. We are allowed to use and modify it for our purposes under this Creative Commons license.  We also based many of our exercises on Arizona’s Baker’s Dozen Learning 2.0 Program, a statewide initiative spearheaded by the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records as well as the Pima County Public Library. The 23 Things Challenge encourages central Texas library staff to learn more about emerging technologies on the web that are changing the way people, society, and libraries access information and communicate with each other. It is your chance to Explore…Play!…and Learn about web 2.0 tools and how they can be useful to you both personally and in your library. Learn at a pace that is comfortable for you, and to share your learning experiences with your colleagues in the central Texas public library community. The first one hundred library staff to complete the 23 Things Program – a 9 week program –  will receive an mp3 player or a gift certificate to Best Buy, funded by the generous Friends of CTLS. All library staff whose libraries are members of the Central Texas Library System, Inc. are eligible to receive prizes. The program officially begins on November 14, 2008. Contact Kam McEvoy if you have any questions. Thanks!

Staff Prizes
FAQs for Staff
News & Program Notes*

This blog has been set-up as part of CTLS’s 23 Things Program to encourage staff to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are reshaping the context of information on the Internet today. The objectives of this program are to:

• encourage exploration of Web 2.0 and new technologies by library staff within CTLS member libraries.
• provide staff with new tools (that are freely available on the Internet) to better support their library’s mission.
• reward staff for taking the initiative to complete 23 self-discovery exercises.

The Learning 2.0 program was designed by Helene Blowers, PLCMC Technology Director, with the support and assitance of several staff and is loosely based upon Stephen Abram’s article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook – Feb 2006) and the website 43Things.

The design of this online program was completely built on Web 2.0 technologies that are freely available on the Internet. These sites include: WordPress, Blogger, Flickr, Odeo, YouTube, PBWiki & Bloglines.

 Staff Prizes & Incentives: (back to top)

The first 100 staff members to completes all 23 things within the 9-week timeframe will receive an MP3 player* capable of holding at least 2gb worth of music and/or audio files funded by the Friends of CTLS. The first 50 small library staff to finish the program will receive their mp3 players compliments of the Tocker Foundation. The device will hold approximately 32 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks (encoded at 128kps) or 64 hours of WMA tracks (at 64kbps). It’s compatible with MP3, WMA, secure WMA, and Audible audio file formats, and can also be used to download and play NetLibrary audio books. These mp3 players and gift cards are generously funded by the Friends of CTLS and the Tocker Foundation.

Staff have until January 30, 2009, to complete all 23 items in order to receive the USB/MP3 Player.

Staff who finish the program will also receive 12 hours CE credit.

Frequently Asked Questions: (back to top)

 

• How does this online learning program work?
  This is a self-discovery program which encourages staff to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY. There will be no classes or workshops offered to support this program. Instead, staff are encouraged to work together and share with each other their discoveries, techniques and “how to’s” both in person and through their blogs.
• How do I sign up for the program?
  In week 2, I’ll have you guys “sign up” by creating a blog and emailing me the web address, so that I can track your comments and activities (you can sprint ahead to exercise 3 if you want during week 1 if you’d like to confirm registration, whatever works best for you). For week 1, though, you can just do the 2 activities, save the paragraphs to post to your blog for the next week, and I will get you registered when thing 3 is complete.
• Is this program open to all CTLS member libraries staff or just some?
  This program is open to ALL CTLS member libraries staff regardless of position and status (full and part time). If your library is not a member of CTLS, you are welcome to follow along, however CTLS cannot award you any staff prizes for completion.
• How long do I have to complete the program?
  The program kicks off November 14, 2008 as part of CTLS’s Exploring Technology Conference and officially wraps up on January 30, 2009.
• How do I track my progress for each of the 23 Things?
  Each staff member that chooses to participate in this program will be required to keep a blog to track their progress and submit the blog address to Kam McEvoy. (This will be set up in Week 2 of the program.)
• If I’m don’t work for a CTLS member library, can I still participate?
  Yes, by all means. However, CTLS cannot award you any incentives or prizes for completion. You can track your progress through the 23 Things list found on the 43Things site — I know it sounds confusing 23..43 ..23 doesn’t it. Anyway, we welcome participants from other libraries to join in the fun and follow along.
• Will there be any training classes offered to show staff how to do this?
  No, this is a self-directed learning program. If you feel you need assistance with an item, you are encouraged to be resourceful and to find a co-worker or another staff member who can help. Reading other staff member’s blogs can help, too.
• I’ve seen the list of 23 Things on the website, but how do I know what to do with them?
  Each week, two or three posts will be added to the CTLS 23 Things blog with details about the discovery exercises for that week. The reason for this staggered approach is to allow participants the ability to focus each week on a different area without feeling overwhelmed.
• Can I work ahead through the list of items on my own?
  Yes, of course. You are encouraged to self-direct your discovery process, especially by working ahead on your own!! However, if you do work ahead on some items, be sure to check back on the exercise details for each item once they are posted so you can be sure to receive full credit for its completion.
• What if I need help – who can I call?
  Since this program is self-directed and is being completed by many staff members throughout the system simultaneously, you are encouraged to work with colleagues along your discovery journey. To find a list of staff participating see The Participants.
• I would like to earn the MP3 player but don’t feel comfortable with my co-workers reading my blog. Can I participate anonymously?
  Yes & No. Since you control all the information that you share on your blog, you can choose to use a screen name to identify yourself to keep yourself anonymous. However, in order to recieve the MP3 player, you will need to identify yourself to Kam McEvoy, Electronic Resources Specialist with CTLS. Your record of progress will be posted on the 23 Things site with your blog name, not your actual name.
• Once I complete all 23 things, how do I get my prize?
  If you complete 23 things by January 16th, 2009, your USB MP3 Player will be mailed to you care of your library the week of February2, 2009.  If you complete the 23 Things list after January 30rd, 2009, there is NO guarantee that you will receive the incentive.

Don’t find your question answered here? Then enter it is as comment below.

Info & Program Notes: (back to top)

For more information about CTLS’s 23 Things Program, contact :

Kam McEvoy
Electronic Resources Specialist
Central Texas Library System, Inc.
800-262-4431(toll-free)

Learning 2.0 Program Notes:

• Nine Seven Best Practices on Learning 2.0 & Two Additions
• Customizing Learning 2.0 ( or how to de-PLCMC-ize the exercises)
• Learning 2.0 Evaluations (links to participant evaluations in Del.icio.us)
• 23rd thing posted (links to early participants evaluations)
• Learning 2.0: Steal this idea update
• Learning 2.0 Wow!!!
• Other program notes on LibraryBytes.com – Learning 2.0
• Learning 2.0 presentation recap (slides)

Learning 2.0 in the News:

• ALA TechSource -Steal This Idea:Learning 2.0 at PLCMC (interview)
• Come Blog with Me, School Library Journal Sept 2006 ( & podcast)
• The C’s of Our Sea Change: Plans for Training Staff, from Core Competencies to LEARNING 2.0 Computers in Libraries, Feb 2007
• 15 Minutes a Day: A Personal Learning Management Strategy, Information Outlook, Feb 2007 (also in pdf)
• Public Library Geeks take to Web 2.0 to the Stacks, Wired News 03.29.07
• New York Times Tech Talk podcast, 04.04.07 (.mp3)
• Learning 2.0 Interview – Longshots podcast (17 min)
• SirsiDynix Institute screencast – Learning 2.0: Make “Play” your New Years Resolution (1 hr)