From Michael – This is a reprint of a column originally published last year in Digitale Biblioteek.
Michael Stephens and Jan Klerk pick up their Twitter conversation again talking about Learning 2.0, education and what librarians should do in the future.
Spreading All Over the World
JK As u described in your research proposal, Learning2.0 has become a worldwide phenomenon. It’s also very popular in Dutch libraries.
MS I am very excited about the Aussie Learning 2.0 research ? I would be very interested to expand to the Netherlands next!
MS Because I’ve watched the programs blossom from afar. Rob Coers should be commended for his assistance 2 all those libraries.
JK You’re right. @robcoers did a great job scaling up the program to all Dutch library districts & still more libraries participating.
The Struggle to Be Open
JK But much newly educated librarians have difficulties with being really open. Showing & sharing their knowledge with face & name.
JK Is this temporary? or 2 be taken for granted? How can we encourage library staff to share openly with colleagues & patrons?
MS Interesting. In US, many LIS students do contribute under their name and work at establishing themselves/networking.
JK That makes a difference I think. Suppose your students are digital natives whereas our librarians are mostly Gen Baby Boom & GenX. MS Why the difficulties being open? Concerns me ? new librarians will guide the future of Dutch libraries.
JK There are actually very few new library students in the Netherlands. We have to motivate our current librarians to be open.
MS Ah! This is slightly different. Established staff should not be timid about engaging with users. Get past that and focus on encouraging interaction ? inviting users to participate as much as possible. It should not be taken for granted.
A Research Program in Australia
JK U make me curious about the Aussie research. Can you give some details?
MS We’re doing a national survey of all library staff that have participated in a L2.0 program to gauge impact.
MS Also working with case study library to measure before the program and after. Hopefully measure same for university lib too.
MS Deliverable: model 4 exemplary Learning 2.0 program de- veloped 4 Aus libraries based on evidence & success of test libraries.
MS Deliverable: a list of exemplary practice for conducting such a program.
MS Deliverable: articulated examination of impact of L2.0 pro- grams on test libs yieldingmodel of impact for field at large.
JK When U talked about gauging the impact of the Aussie L2.0 programs did you mean measuring competences or also changed mentality?
MS We’re focusing on measuring changed mentality toward learning, exploration and new things using ?s about transparency, etc.
A New Library School in the Netherlands
JK The Dutch library innovator Rob Bruynzeels is establishing a new Library Academy focused on ‘learning2watch differently’.
JK based upon reaching ‘excellence’, seeking as much as possible different angles in librarianship e.g. the artist, the dramaturge.
MS How will the new program be different?
JK The program of the new Library School has not been made public yet so I don’t know the details. JK But our library collaborates in a pilot program which has2deliver new learning methods 4 the new Library School. JK We make eg. use of an artist. She tries in a series of 10 work- shops 2 tap the hidden creativity of a small group of our librarians.
MS If you asked me what librarians should focus on for the future at this moment in time? I’d say: Creativity, Curiosity & Collaboration – in everything we do! 🙂
JK This beautiful statement makes a nice conclusion to this dialogue. Thnx! dib
Noten
1 Michael Stephens: Measuring the value and effect of Learning2.0 programs in libraries.
2 https://tametheweb.com/2009/03/31/press-release-stephens-named- 2009-caval-visiting-scholar
Note from Michael: In 2009 and 2010, I wrote a column for a Dutch library magazine called Digitale Bibliotheek with Jan Klerk, Librarian at City Library of Haarlem Netherlands. Our editor, Karolien Selhorst, gave me the go ahead to republish the columns here. We wrote and published these pieces in English. Called “Open Conversation,” the articles gave Jan and I a chance to discuss all sorts of topics related to libraries, technology and trends. We took some unique approaches during our time writing together. I appreciated this chance to collaborate on an international level.