SCPL 23 Things - #23

I have enjoyed working through the 23 Things and I confess I've also been exploring the 2.1 continuation as well. Some of the tools are just fun, some thoughtful, and some will be useful in a public library setting. I imagine many will evolve through many versions as 2.0 becomes 2.1 and 2.2. I've done most of my exploring at home on my own laptop. There really hasn't been much time to work on them during the normal workday.

But I do agree that my learning is more meaningful when I take responsibility for my own training and learning goals. In my own case, I've learned more this way than I ever would have learned in a traditional classroom setting. I know that many of our staff are frustrated because there isn't time to do everything during the workday and I worry that we have overloaded them.

Still, this is an exciting time to be in libraries and I also see many of our staff blossoming in creative ways. Change is messy and chaotic and we are very much in a time of change. We have to reexamine everything we have thought was true.

A preoccupation of mine has been the issue of privacy and freedom. Here is David Brin's 21st take on this issue:

Reciprocal Transparency: "In the information age to come, cameras and databases will sprout like poppies--or weeds---whether we like it or not. Over the long haul, we as a people must decide the following questions:

Can we stand living exposed to scrutiny, our secrets laid open, if in return we get flashlights of our own that we can shine on anyone who might do us harm---even the arrogant and strong?

Or is an illusion of privacy worth any price, even the cost of surrendering our own right to pierce the schemes of the powerful?"

Think about that.