#1 Discover, Play, Learn!

Welcome to the Linebaugh Public Library System’s Learning 2.0 program! Thanks for joining us on this opportunity for learning and discovery. Chances are, if you’ve found your way here you’re either:

1. a member of the LPLS staff who is participating in the Learning 2.0 program.
2. interested in learning about and playing around (yes, playing is allowed in libraries) with some new Web 2.0 tools that will help you expand your information literacy toolbox.
   -or-
3. just interested in winning cool prizes.

Whatever the reason, we’re glad you’re here!

Learning 2.0 is an online learning program that encourages 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.

Over the course of the next nine weeks, this website will highlight 24 Things and discovery exercises to help staff become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, podcasting, online applications, video and image hosting sites, and social networking sites. To familiarize yourself with this project, be sure to read the About page.

If those terms are unfamiliar to you, no need to worry! The whole point of this program is to introduce these topics in a fun environment. All of these things are tools freely available from the Web, often referred to as Web 2.0 tools because they let everyday people actively collaborate and share information.

A few tips:

• Some of the exercises involve an audio component, so either use a computer where you will not disturb others or have a pair of headphones handy.
  
  
• The focus of this program is on self-discovery. Each participant will be asked to track her/his journey online through blog entries. You are encouraged to read – and comment in – each other’s blogs. With staff throughout the system participating, there should be several of your coworkers available to lean on if you get stuck on any exercise.
  
  
• The FAQ should answer most of your questions about this program. If not, then please add your question to the FAQ page as a comment and your question will be answered. You can also post a comment in response to any of the 24 Things blog entries.
  

So fasten your seat belts, grab your mouse and get ready for a discovery adventure... and remember, it's OK to play in the library and have fun! We hope you will take time out of each week to play – that’s what Learning 2.0 is all about: discovering some Web 2.0 technologies and playing.

By the way, just by reading this blog entry, you’ve completed 1 Thing on the 24 Things list!

Discover More
If you missed our introduction to Web 2.0 and the Learning 2.0 program on Staff Development Day (or you want to watch the video again), watch this video that illustrates how the nature of the World Wide Web has changed and what Web 2.0 is all about.