23Things #23 Neither end nor beginning...

This 23Things program has been like a very eye-catching and satisfying pattern within the greater tapestry of my learning. While both life-long learning and web2.0 elements (blogging, RSS, wikis, YouTube, LibraryThing) had appeared in my learning tapestry before 23Things, Helene's (PLCMC's) project introduced:

• a pattern (2.0 for the sake of 2.0 with library relevance),
  
• colour (Flickr),
• inspiration (other participants).

And this pattern is not ending abruptly... as Helene posts about other libraries' learning2.0 programs which have been stimulated by 23Things I find new threads with which to extend and vary the pattern. For myself I think I'll tag those '23+Things'.

For this, #23:
* What were my favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

• That my posts might actually receive comments!
  
• Flickr (for giving me a last straw excuse to finally obtain a digital camera
• Bloglines (for a way to keep up to date without cluttering my email, and a source for a sidebar list of blogs I read)

* How has this program assisted or affected my lifelong learning goals?

• It lent a rationale (encouragement from the library community) to play with some of the web2.0 tools that had caught my interest but for which I had no pressing need.
• I've discovered (and subscribed) to interesting role models.
  

* Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised me?

• receiving comments
• all the extras from and around Flickr
• del.icio.us has been more useful than I expected: I can bookmark more pages knowing I'll be able to find one among them all, and I can easily send links to friends (after I've taught others how to use del.icio.us).
  

* What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

• As a non-staff participant I am hugely grateful and impressed that Helene foretold the potential from interest outside PLCMC and incorporated ways for us to participate. I'd like to know whether the extent of international participation caused any problems for PLCMC or Helene?
  
• Ah I've just thought of a potential addition to content ... Ann Arbor allows non-patrons to add a review to their catalog-addon. Hennepin allows comments (which I think is even more inviting) but I don't know if one has to be a patron. Perhaps one Thing might be for participants to do so, to link to their comment and tell whether/how such catalog features would be a plus for library patrons.
  

* If offered another discovery program like this in the future, would I again chose to participate?

• If non-staff participants are once again catered for, depending on the content, quite likely.