Project Play

What is Project Play?

Project Play is a free, online, self-discovery program that encourages the exploration of Web 2.0 tools and new technologies. The Project is a collaboration of South Central Library System, Outagamie Waupaca Library System and Winnefox Library System. It’s based on the very successful Learning 2.0 Program created by Helene Blowers of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, under their Creative Commons license which allows others to duplicate the program. If you would like to duplicate our program for your own staff, please feel free to do so under this Creative Commons license.

Our goals

• expose staff to emerging technologies that they are hearing about and which many of their patrons are already using
• encourage learning through play (with the focus on ”participation”, not necessarily on doing something ”right”)
• empower and encourage people to take responsibility for their own lifelong learning
• expand people’s knowledge and confidence
• and eliminate fear of the unknown.

(These goals are based on Helene Blowers’ goals for Learning 2.0. ”Thanks, Helene!”)

Who can play?

All staff at member libraries of SCLS, OWLS and Winnefox may participate. Participation in Project Play is open to ”’all”’ staff at libraries, regardless of a person’s job description.

Participation will be limited to 50 people from the OWLS system, 50 people from Winnefox system, and 75 from SCLS. If there are spaces open after an initial registration period, trustees and volunteers from the systems or their member libraries will be eligible to participate.

A gathering of participants at the 2007 WLA Conference is planned, and at the 2008 WAPL Spring Conference participants will meet to celebrate the completion of Project Play.

Anyone outside of South Central, Outagamie Waupaca and Winnefox library systems can participate by using the projects on this site, however, they are not eligible to register or to receive incentives. Participants outside SCLS, OWLS, and Winnefox must seek support for the projects from their local system staff.

How will it work?

The Project will be divided into 2 halves:

• 1st semester will start September 17, 2007 and will run for 12 weeks
• 2nd semester will start January 14, 2008 and will also run for 12 weeks

Each week a new topic will be introduced, and besides providing learning and exploration time, a fun extra will always be included! Participants can choose to complete just one or both semesters.

Some of the topics we will cover include…

• blogging, RSS & newsreaders
• audio, podcasts, iTunes & Pandora
• video & YouTube
• tagging, tag clouds, Technorati & del.icio.us
• wikis & Wikipedia
• photo sharing tools like Flickr & free online photo editors
• IM, Meebo & the Meebo Me widget
• book sharing tools like LibraryThing, Shelfari & Book Mooch
• search tools like Rollyo, Google custom search & Google co-op
• productivity tools like Google docs, Ta-da Lists, Doodle, Basecamp & Skype

Participants will be eligible to earn incentives at the completion of either or both “semesters” of the Project. Everyone who completes the entire Project (both semesters) will also have their name put into a drawing for a fabulous prize.

Participants will track their progress on a blog and can participate anonymously if they so choose. We will encourage people to work collaboratively on all projects to make the process more fun. Collaboration will not, however, be required.

Why should I participate?

A simple search in EBSCOhost for “Web 2.0″ or “Library 2.0″ reveals the wide array of interest in these emerging technologies from all fields, but especially for libraries. They encourage participation in our services and engage patrons in new and exciting ways. We need to be aware of new technologies, explore how we might use them in our libraries, and go where our patrons ”are” instead of expecting ”them” to come to ”us”.

Here are some quotes from the blogs of ”Learning 2.0” participants, which serve as testimonials of the success of this kind of program:

“As this learning exercise continues, I am slowly gaining confidence both in my abilities using these programs, and in the purpose of what I am doing. For a while I though that while a lot of this stuff was fun, it had minimal practical value. I’ve started to change my mind.” ~ “Ian”

“The best thing about this process is that I’m very inspired by all the things I found and how they can help us make our public library system an integral part of the community. Programming podcasts? IM homework help? YouTube library tutorials? Book club blogs? The possibilities are endless and that’s exciting and invigorating.” ~ “Sarah Jo”

“When we took a look at the 7 ½ habits [of lifelong learning], I had mentioned that confidence was probably my weakest one. I’m not sure that I’ve conquered that one (it could take a lifetime!) but I’m so much more confident at these few things. As I continue to learn information, my confidence grows.” ~ “Little League”

Why not take a chance and see what you might take away from this experience? Besides, when else will you have permission to PLAY?!