[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/amanda_sit.jpg” caption=”Amanda Etches-Johnson, user experience librarian at Mills Memorial Library. File photo.”]Heard the buzz about Facebook, Second Life, Flickr, blogs, wikis and other strange-sounding things? Confused about what they are and how to use them? Well, many library staff members were in the same position until they joined an exciting program to introduce them to these technologies.

From February to May, library staff participated in Learning 2.0 @ Mac, a hands-on, immersive learning program that provided them with the opportunity to explore Web 2.0 tools and the impact these tools are having on libraries and library services. Participants were encouraged to think about ways these tools could be used in their work environment to deliver innovative library services.

“The Emerging Technologies Group has been looking at ways to implement innovative web technologies and tools into library services for a while,” says Amanda Etches-Johnson, user experience librarian at Mills Memorial Library and chair of the Emerging Technologies Group that developed Learning 2.0 @ Mac. “But we realized that the first thing we needed to do was give library staff the opportunity to explore these tools. And we wanted to do it in a self-directed, low-threat, fun way.”

Eighty-four Library staff members voluntarily enrolled in the program. All were placed in learning groups to provide a community of support and encouragement, as well as a forum to ask questions and discuss ideas.

Each week focused on a particular technology and participants were given a task to practice their new skills using freely available online tools such as Blogger, WordPress, Bloglines, del.icio.us and Facebook.

In addition to the opportunity to become familiar with exciting new technologies and having a lot of fun along the way, an incentive was offered to all participants completing the program: an MP3 player and a chance to win a laptop. Sixty-eight staff members completed the program along with some staff from University Advancement who also participated in the weekly activities.

“It went better than we could have hoped,” says Etches-Johnson. “Not only did the program give participants the opportunity to play with the technologies that a lot of our students are using, but it also got Library staff excited about ways to implement 2.0 tools in the library.”

Learning 2.0 @ Mac wrapped up on May 30 with a small celebration as participants collected their MP3 players (and showed off their dancing skills with Dance Dance Revolution). Pat Collins, a staff member in the Innis Library, was the lucky winner of the laptop. So what did participants think of the program?

“You will earn my continued gratitude the next time I speak with some tech savvy 21-year-old and am at least able to nod in recognition of some of the programs/applications/trends touched upon over the last few weeks and it will be a nice change from my usual blank stares when these topics come up,” said Alex Erasmi, library assistant/web technician at Mills Library.

“That was fun. Like most people, I wish I had more time to spend on the weekly activities, but even though I raced through a couple of weeks, I still learned a lot! I don't feel like I'm from the Stone Age anymore,” said Lynn Schneider, supervisor, Circulation/Reserve/Stacks at Innis Library.

“What can I say, I think it rocked!,” said Krista Godfrey, liaison librarian at Mills Library.