Technology Tune-up @ TPPL

Welcome to the Technology Tune-Up @ TPPL blog. This blog is the home of the Tinley Park Public Library’s staff training program, Technology Tune-Up. It was created to encourage staff to explore, experiment and learn about emerging technologies that are shaping the way people access information, communicate, learn and create. Over the course of nine weeks, starting the week of February 1 and running through April 16, employees will have time to explore sixteen new tools and get hands-on experience using them. (A schedule of times when you can work in the Computer Training Room will be found on the "Help" page of this blog.)

The objectives of this program are to:
· Encourage staff to explore new technologies
· Provide staff with new tools that are freely available on the Internet
· Explore, Discover, Do and have Fun!

The Tune-Ups are:
1. Blogging
2. RSS and Feed Readers
3. Music and Videos with Pandora and YouTube
4. Photo Sharing with Flickr
5. Social Networking
6. Wikis and Google Documents
7. Podcasts, Instant Messaging, and Downloadable Audiobooks
8. Virtual Library and the TPPL Website
9. Twitter
10. (Optional) Social Bookmarking

Each Tune-Up is structured around three main themes: Define, Discover, and Do. We’ll provide a short definition, give you some resources to explore the tools or technologies and ask you to complete an assigned task.

Before beginning the Technology Tune-Up read the entries under the "General Information" heading. If these resources do not answer your questions, leave a comment on this blog post and the Technology Tune-Up team will respond as quickly as possible.

When the Technology Tune-Up program ends you may “re-cloak” your online identity. This page on cleaning up will outline the steps for removing your various Technology Tune-Up accounts.

This program is based on the Learning 2.0 program 23 things designed by Helene Blowers, Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County and 10 things @ SPL (Skokie Public Library).

By participating and completing the Technology Tune-Up @ TPPL, you will not only be learning new things, but you will also be actively working to fulfill the Mission of the Tinley Park Public Library, as follows:

The Tinley Park Public Library provides the people of Tinley Park and all other eligible patrons with materials in a variety of formats, programs and services to suit their cultural, educational, informational and recreational needs.

LIBRARY ROLES

A. General Information:The library will help meet the need for information and answers questions on a broad array of topics related to work, school and personal life, by offering print, non-print and electronic reference resources that cover a broad variety of topics.

B. Information Literacy:The library will address the need for skills related to finding, evaluating and using information effectively. The library will provide training and instruction in skills related to locating, evaluating and using information resources of all types.

C. Lifelong Learning:The library will address the desire for self-directed personal growth and development opportunities. The library will provide and maintain an extensive collection of materials on a variety of topics in which the general public has a sustained interest. Collections will be easily accessible and organized to encourage public browsing by subject areas.
And now…it’s time to get started on your Technology Tune-Up. Be sure to read the items under the "General Information" heading first, then begin with Tune-Up #1: Blogging.