More playing on Flickr and Dumpr.

Pretty
Originally uploaded by truebluegenx

My easiest habit is to Play. I believe it a necessity to enjoy your work and always try to make things fun.

The hardest habit is creating my own learning toolbox. I often jump in without having all the tools I need and then find myself having to improvise.

I really enjoyed Michael Stephen's presentation as our kick off to Learn & Play. It was a very appropriate presentation, as the focus was about adapting to change and the emerging of global technology. There were 3 unique things that jumped out at me....

First, (and this was such a little part but so very amusing) the ridiculous-ness of some of the rules and signs you see everywhere (esp in other libraries). For example, the ones that tell you absolutely NO cell phones in public areas. Sure, cells phones can be rude but they connect us to our world. Everyone uses cell phones nowadays. If you try to ban them, what is the likelihood that people will spend time in your establishment. Instead of a total ban, encourage texting or put them on vibrate. Another example of a riduculous rule is where you offer cool services to teens and then tell them not to talk or be loud. That is what teens do. This part of the presentation just made me laugh, because I have always had a tendency to ignore stupid rules. I am really good at finding the rules that contradict what you are intending. Now there is someone out there encouraging all of us to look for this.

Second, I really enjoyed the graph that broke down how each generation was utilizing the internet. I find it fascinating. Right now, 83% of my fellow Gen X-ers are spectators or inactive to the many forms of social media whereas 70% of the 18-21 yr olds are joiners to these sites. And 57% of teens create content. I like to think about how this could translate...

If young adults are already used to talking with people from other countries about games, sports and other hobbies, then they are probably not going to be afraid to reach out to discuss issues such as the environment, travel, commerce, and war vs peace solutions. We already know these are global problems, but don't really tackle them at a global level. There has never really been a way to do this before outside of politics. Now the possibilities are endless. We should encourage and embrace this global communication as it could really change how we solve these big problems.

Finally, the idea of radical trust. This is probably a little corny, but thinking about trust makes me feel like a kid again. When parents could let you leave the house on your bike (without a helmet) trusting you would come back by dinner. Where you could still walk to school (without getting flashed or worse) and go trick-or-treating and trust the candy you are eating is safe. Where stopping to help a stranger was not dangerous! Nowadays, you can't trust anyone! I am not 100% on-board with radical trust at these sites because of everything I know, but the ideal is a good one.

Well, thanks again CML and Michael Stephens for inspiring the life-long learner in me!!

Welcome to my first ever blog. I have lurked and posted to other blogs before (it's entertaining to guess the personalities of others based on their blog name), but have never taken the time or initiative to create my own. How fun!! I hate to brag to my friends outside the library, but I just can't believe I have a job that pays me to PLAY. My hubby says I have a charmed life and I am starting to believe him....