Chapter 12--The Grand Finale

I've enjoyed the 23 things experience quite a lot. It has exposed me to tools and technologies some of which I had been unfamiliar. And it went beyond mere exposure to include actually using and getting comfortable with them. At the outset, the program explained that it was intended to build a toolbox for a librarian to use and I think it has done that.

The program has also had a collateral impact on my thinking. Specifically, I had conceived a librarian's role in knowledge building as maintaining a gateway to published materials so that members of the community could use it to promote their own lifelong learning. I still believe that, but I now sense that the librarian may be able to do something beyond that--namely, to show the members of the library community how to be better readers. It seems to me that many of the tools in the 23 things can have considerable impact on the social side of the learning community, whereby members can coach each other by sharing insights and the like. That sharing will, in turn, enrich the reading experience group members have.

I was sufficiently impressed with the 23 things program that I went to the article and website on which it was based. This is a really cool approach to self development starting with the simple concept of putting goals on a list and tracking progress. You can also see how others are doing and get terrific ideas for new things to try and explore. Check it out.