In praise of curb cuts and Learning 2.0!

Several weeks ago I broke a wheel on my shopping cart; I was going over a curb and the plastic inner cracked out of the axel. Dr. Djonz replaced wheels he'd salvaged from a previous cart (it's happened before). Whenever I wheel my shopping cart to Walgreens I'm made aware of the problems of those who depend on chairs, strollers and other wheeled carts to get around. And I appreciate curb cuts! Dr. Djonz says I should be more careful and lift the cart and its wheels over the cutless curb -- not easy with a full cart. Curb cuts help everyone, not just wheelchair riders. Sometimes what seems like an annoying and unnecessary accommodation for a special population has benefits for everyone. Like Learning 2.0 !

At last Thing 23!: In praise of Learning 2.0

What I've learned with Learning 2.0.

The journey's over? Definitely not! This has been just one rewarding segment of my lifelong learning experience. I only hope that future encounters with other new technologies will be just as rewarding. I can learn new things and maybe I can even create new learning tools!
All the same, I'm not one for being the first to adopt new technology. I still don't know (much) XML, don't have a digital camera, iPod or MP3 player (or television for that matter) I know that it's good to try things out, see if they work, and how they might be used in the future, consider the social consequences and if necessary, back off. I call this the Amish approach.

Going back in time (a long time?), I should have been more flexible about the learning issues around trouble shooting of computer printers. I protested I was a librarian not a technician (that was when contractors had the responsibility (and keys) for the xerox machines-- which I saw as a comparable technology) . My supervisor told me I had to be both.

Problem: Will I be given time in the future to make new discoveries? I hope so, and would definitely participate in similar programs. Were that all new technology as interesting and exciting.

Problem: Will we be able to incorporate wikis and blogs in our library website? I have a number of ideas, ranging from using a wiki to make a San Jose History Timeline for the California Room web pages to future blogs for book discussion groups to making subject specific pathfinders (squibo?) .

Kudos to Helene Blower for starting Learning 2.0 at PLCMC.
There's still plenty to learn! In my bloglines yesterday (via Shifted Librarian) I was excited to see Sam Wallin's Library 2.0 in 15 minutes a day wiki-in-progress, which includes some excellent introductory material on blogs and sections on social networking.
A wheel may not need reinventing, but there's always refinement needed to make it better.
Library technology like wheels, needs to be adaptable and squeeky wheels sometimes provide the best inspiration!