What's a good way to learn Library 2.0? A self-guided program with cool prizes at the end!

Take a look at Loudon County's "Learning 2.0" program.

It's designed help bring staff up to speed on Web 2.0 technologies (including blogs, podcasts, RSS, and Wikis). Plus it has the added advantage of a cool reward (a free MP3 player!) at the end of the program for all staff members who complete the entire program.

At PPL I think this would be a great training program but might work best along with a traditional presentation of new technologies, since it can be hard to follow along with a self guided technology training program unless you are an early adapter. When you are all by yourself there's no one to ask for help, but if this kind of thing could be rolled out after the initial overview to staff about these new technologies , then that would be great!

This kind of training program is modeled on the very successful "Learning 2.0" program at the Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenberg County. Kudos to Helene Blowers of PLCMC for creating this idea and encouraging others to steal it for their own libraries.

Learning 2.0 -- 23 things

Here's a fine example of a library taking the bull by the horns and implementing a training program for all staff on new technologies. The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County created a staff training program called Learning 2.0. It was a self-paced 9 week program with an incentive at the end: each library staff member who completed all 23 small exercises received a free MP3 player. Now that's a training program I can really get behind!