#27 - This Is The End, Sort Of

Upon reflecton of yesterday's reflection, we do have one more question for you - was there anything else you thought we should have covered?

Please let us know if something comes to mind. You are welcome to ammend yesterday's blog posting or create a final short one. No need to worry, though, if nothing comes to mind.

Okay, now to the 27th thing...

The 27th Thing

Yes, you're looking at it, the 27th thing, what comes next.

Let's change the punctation and make the last part a question. What comes next?

First, the Return of the Podcast

We couldn't close shop without one final podcast. In today's podcast, David and Laurel seek closure and talk some about that very question, what comes next?

Click the Play button above
to hear this week's Podcast (3:06)
And what else comes next?

Your mp3 player

Don't worry - we haven't forgotten about your mp3 players. I've started shopping around (please email me if you see a good deal) and we expect to get your players out to you by the end of June. Many many thanks to the KCLS Foundation for providng the funding.

Now, why so long?

We want to get the best players possible and that means we are waiting to see how many of you complete the entire program before making our final purchase decision. Flexibility, afterall, is the 2.0 way...

So please make sure you submit your week 12 Learning 2.0 Progress Log entry - we don't want anyone to miss out.

And more globally, what's next at KCLS?

Web 2.0 at KCLS

We've already started - nearly 500 of you started blogging through Learning 2.0 and well over 300 of you are on track to complete the entire Learning 2.0 program. That would be you, reading this blog entry.

What comes next is creating KCLS services that take advantage of web 2.0 technology. If we do this right, we'll do an even better job of serving our communities (quite a lofty goal when you consider how excellent a job you all do already) and of working with one another.

More formally, a plan needs to be in place. The KCLS Blogging Committee distributed its recommendations for Web 2.0 services to APT and cluster managers just yesterday (5/7) and we hope to present them to all staff before the end of May. Expect to see Memo articles, emails, and meeting presentations on this topic throughout the early summer.

We don't want to overwhelm anyone - our staff or our patrons - and will roll new services out in waves, a few at a time. You'll see opportunities to participate explained in greater detail as we move forward organizationally.

It is going to be an incredibly rewarding (and fun) summer and beyond - we hope that you'll take part.

The End, Part 1: Thank You

It hasn't been easy, I know - you've stayed up late cataloging your books on Library Thing, watched countless new wave music videos on YouTube, sought out old friends on MySpace, shocked and/or impressed your kids with your new knowledge and lingo. And if none of the above applies, well, we hope that you learned at least something new.

Thanks to your energy and willingness to explore, our collective staff knows so much more. We'll help more patrons, we'll improve organizational processes, and we'll be much more confident when still more new technology comes our way (cause it isn't going to stop).

Thank you. Seriously. Thank you for doing this.

The End, Part 2: The Shot Outs

One last round of thanks - anyone on this list went above and beyond to make this program happen.

Bruce Schauer, our project sponsor, enthusiastically gave the go-ahead and provided continuous support.

Lisa Hill created the Learning 2.0 Progress Log and gave us all the tools we needed to administer this program. This was no small feat.

KCLS Graphics created our logo and the outstanding check-list brochure many of you picked up at our kick-off event.

Myra Basden videotaped that presentation (it will get on the intranet soon).

Helene Blowers, at the Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenberg County, provided a wonderful idea and everything we needed to get started.

Our speakers, Stephen Abram and Aaron Schmidt, helped us think outside the box.

Darlene Pearsall created a participation option for staff working fewer than 20 weekly hours.

KCLS Cluster Managers and department heads did their utmost to find time for you to take part.

Learning 2.0 Advocates provided guidance when you needed it.

The KCLS Foundation provided funding for mp3 players.

And to anyone I've inadvertendly left off this list, no harm intended - thank you thank you and thank you again.

Okay, I'm done.