Along with the recent announcement from IMLS & MacArthur foundation seeking 2nd round grant applications for 21st Century Learning Labs, there’s been a lot of news lately about libraries moving forward with this new service model.  Here at CML, we’re also moving forward with our planning in the digital media creation space and are working with four other prominent Columbus cultural organizations to create a network of learning labs for teens across the city.  I can share more on this in the future as our planning progresses. 

Anyway, there’s a lot learning organizations can learn from each other as we look to support new models for community learning involving digital media. YouMedia Chicago has of course received lots of national attention for the model they successfully launched.  But there was also an early prototype of this digital learning model with ImaginOn’s Studio I -- a space/facility that I had the pleasure to be involved with in developing when I was at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  I know there are others, but at the moment I don't have a very complete list to draw from:  

Here are few that I know of outside of the 12 awarded in the first round of IMLS/MacArthur Learning Labs grant:

• Digital Projects Lab @ Arlington Public Library 
• YouMedia Miami @ Miami Dade PL ( news story )
• Fab Lab @ Fayetteville Free Library
• Creative Technology Center @ Orlando PL (this was just announced)
  

If you know of more (beyond the list of 12 already awarded) please add to my comments.

It’s been quite a hiatus since I’ve posted anything here. A divorce tends to do that to a person... halts you in dead in your tracks, forces you to re-prioritize your life and once you’re finally through what looks like at first is a very dark transition tunnel, it actually makes you glad that it all actually happened. Yup, life is funny that way.

Over the past two years – has it really been two years already? – I’ve had many people ask me if I plan to finally get back to my blog. Well, I guess if you’re reading this post, then you know the answer is “yes” … It’s just taken me a bit longer then I like. :)

You may have also noted with this visit, that I’ve decided to change my URL. LibraryBytes.com has served me well in the past, but as I move forward I’ll be changing up this site a bit. Not sure how just yet, but I’m pretty sure it will start with some minor tweaking to design and then who knows?

Thanks for finding me and my blog again. It’s good to be back. :)

PS: Please excuse the missing images and broken links for the time being. I still have lots of cleanup to do after 24 months of ignoring this site. :)

It's been a great two days in Rotterdam talking with folks at the DB Congres. For those in attendance here are the slides to my keynote and master class:

Keynote: Reality Check 2.010: 5 Trends Spacing Libraries & Digital Space

Masterclass: Creating a Culture of Innovation in Libraries

Yay! Columbus Neighborhoods is launching today and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s amazing to me how a casual lunch with a colleague can spark simple idea and three weeks later you’ve got a 34 page proposal outlining an amazing collaboration project between two great community organizations.

We didn’t get the grant that we applied for, but that didn’t stop us from moving forward. Sometimes ideas gain so much momentum that no matter what the obstacle is, you just find a way to make it happen.

So here it is… Columbus Neighborhoods, a community engagement portal celebrating Columbus’ rich neighborhoods. What make this project different from other community portal projects is that not only is content (images, videos & stories) contributed by the community, the community also has the ability to co-curate their own galleries from content contributed by others. It also integrates well into popular social media platforms.



WOSU Media is the Columbus Metropolitan Library's partner in this venture and I think we’re both thrilled with the results. In three months this project has moved from just a concept on paper to full blown web application that promotes community engagement on a large scale.

PS: Thanks Susan Meyer, WOSU Media for believing in this idea and collaborative partnership as much as I. Thanks Penny Phensuvabarp and Sam Davis at CML and Interactive Knowledge for your leadership and efforts in turning this idea into an amazing experience.

I jotted this down in my ideas journal the other day ...