Thing 23: Final Thoughts

Well, I did it -- I finished during the second round with a few days to spare. When I first began I was very interested in Library 2.0, had done some blogging about it in our internal blog and had tried to do a few of the 23 Things ala Helene Blowers. I didn't get too far with that as the structure and support was missing. I am very grateful for the 23 Things on a Stick, the communications, support, Minnesota customization, and the incentive. Several of my colleagues are working on the 23 things. One finished during the first round, and I'm the second to reach the finish line.

At first it was slow going. I struggled with the basics such as uploading my avatar. One boost for me was attending the Midwest Library Technology Conference this spring. The hands-on session helped me get a couple of things done and get the support and answers I needed. Once I got going, it got easier. I got over the culture of perfection and focused on participation, engagement, and reflection. It has been an ego boost for me to become more tech savvy and to be seen in my workplace as someone who is actively learning new things and able to teach others. That's a definite plus. I also had a lot of fun at times, especially with the image tools.

My learning experience in one word: exploration.

If you offered a 23 More Things on a Stick program, I would definitely participate. I see tremendous value for me and others.