In last month’s Boulder Library newsletter, I shared that we’ve embraced curiosity as one of our guiding principles. Simply saying (or writing) this phrase brings a smile to my face! Curiosity and its important and very magical effects has been much on my mind lately. On this windy evening here in Boulder, I pulled out a vintage copy of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that a friend gave to me years ago. Thumbing through the chalky, aged pages of this book, I came across the opening lines of the second chapter:
“’Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English); ‘now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was!
Curiouser and curiouser—what a great phrase! In the past few weeks, you might say that this has been the mantra of the staff at Boulder Library. We’ve been talking about and exploring what makes us curious, what we wonder about, and what is intriguing about the world around us. These conversations are leading to ways that we bring our curiosities alive for the community we serve.
A very tangible way we’ve been exploring our curiosity is through discovering current tech gadgetry. We’re learning about iPods, flip video cameras, the Wii, digital cameras and more. These are all curiosity sparkers that people are experimenting with in many segments of life. How can you explore these at your public library? Stay tuned. You’ll see that in the coming months we’ll be offering more programs and events that feature how you can learn more about using current technology to make life more efficient, fun and engaging. Don’t be surprised if you happen to see a group of teens challenging one another to another round of Wii Sports or an informal gathering of adults working to figure out how to sync their laptops with their iPods.
What we are learning is that using interactive technology creates opportunities for a wide variety of people to interact together as well as learn the use and usability of technologies. Yes, what this means is that we all learn through play. Gaming technologies such as Wii Sports or Rock Band are both fun and—you guessed it—tools for learning! Libraries and community-serving agencies around the world are finding this out. You can be a part of it as well—right here in Boulder.
If you’re curious about a new piece of technology you’re reading about or you’re hearing your friends discuss, then come see how Boulder Library is exploring it. If we’re not, ask about how we can help you find out more! We’re here to learn and grow from one another. Let’s take a note from Alice and let life get curiouser and curiouser—together!
Filed under: Director's Blog
