CLA Keynote

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stansich/133438545/ The Experience of Play! Helene Blowers Digital Strategy Director Columbus Metropolitan Library CLA, June 1, 2009

Passions ... L & L K, J & D Travel Growth

Passions ... What are yours?

Warning ... Deep Thoughts ahead

Lifelong Learning = Lifelong PLAY !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/entelepentele/2583927950/

What is Play? Play is the highest form of human activity - Nietzsche philosophy http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnadi/18067074

“Play is the highest form of research ”

- Albert Einstein

http://www.flickr.com/photos/devcentre/335708735/

“ Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood.” .

Friedrich Froebel

(1782- 1852)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/madmetal/2208315035/

Play is the “ free expression of what is in a child’s soul ,” giving “ joy, freedom, contentment, inner and outer rest, [and] peace with the world .”

Friedrich Froebel

Father of kindergarten

“ The plays of childhood are the germinal leaves of all later life ” -Froebel http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/3107090883/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apoptotic/2540055580/ Froebel's gifts & occupations

Play is serious learning - Fred Rogers http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaspi/12944421/

What’s necessary for Play? http://www.flickr.com/photos/onegoodbumblebee/1444006597/

Name the toy? Best selling toy worldwide ever ! 1 st known image of toy – 1648 painting 1 st sold as a commercial toy in 1940 Over 200 million sold each year

Name the toy? Best selling toy worldwide ever ! 1 st known image of toy – 1648 painting 1 st sold as a commercial toy in 1940 Over 200 million sold each year http://flickr.com/photos/jupac/2675420204/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandi_22/474558156/ A brief history …

Children Blowing Bubbles by Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-1789)

Bubbles by John Everett Millais – Pears Soap 1886 Thomas J. Barratt & Andrew Pears Dawn of modern advertising

http://homepage.mac.com/keithmjohnson/soapbubblerphotos/page2/files/page2-1003-full.html Transcends Cultures

Transcends Generations http://www.flickr.com/photos/flatfield/251635768/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tz1_1zt/2505360288 Transcends Species

1996: longest bubble = 105 feet Most concentric bubble domes = 12 Some fun facts ...

2005 : Largest free floating: 105.4 cubic feet (788 gallons water)

1999: Most people simultaneously blowing bubbles = 23,680 Boleyn Park, London

Most concentric bubble domes = 12 2007: Most people encased in a bubble = 50 kids

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandora_6666/2352927931/ 2001: Most bubbles blown with tarantula in mouth 119 Bubbles ( 30 sec) Ray Macaraeg – San Jose, CA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jubilo/469517060/ What's this really all about?

This slide intentionally left bubble-less

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandi_22/474558156/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/owl/2696325046/ Because bubbles are about … Popping Bubbles What’s the experience?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimntonik/2758303137/ Blowing Bubbles What’s the experience?

Which gives you more? http://www.flickr.com/photos/kubina/50366633/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkusuma/818295509/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustinq/137169637 Bubbles provide the advantage

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonysalvi/503911848/ What's our bubbles?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Soap_bubbles_2.jpg Books Programs information storytimes Access Computers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahbelle1/520639531/ Community

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltjopoort/2749313931/ "Cultural consumers thrive on information and ideas to fuel their creative self-expression." Patricia Martin Renaissance Generation

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9267053@N04/640868137/ Solution? Easy Bubble Solution: - 1 quart of water - 1/2 c. of Dawn dishwashing detergent

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/1675634434/ Find your passion

http://homepage.mac.com/keithmjohnson/soapbubblerphotos/page4/files/page4-1039-full.html Fuel self-expression

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nmchronicles/497353467/ Nurture Curiosity

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindenbaum/386124762/ Reflect Community

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstar/2742238689/ Build upon strengths

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustinq/137170823 Quantity = Quality

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustinq/137171657 Vancouver Bubble mob / Flash mob Take it to the community

Embrace transparency

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/478336588/ Look beyond the surface

http://www.flickr.com/photos/placbo/267290111/in/photostream/ Pay attention to niches

One size does not fit all

http://www.skipweasel.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/freezebubbles/album/slides/pop.html

Focus on the relative

http://www.flickr.com/photos/audrix/1572151898/ Create Collaborations

http://homepage.mac.com/keithmjohnson/soapbubblerphotos/page5/files/page5-1033-full.html Let others take the lead

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16961193@N06/2267862256/ Make it silly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenny-pics/2737382113/ Befriend messy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_diewald/2418836797/ Stretch yourself

http://homepage.mac.com/keithmjohnson/soapbubblerphotos/page12/files/page12-1003-full.html Collect & Gather

www.flickr.com/photos/boojee/170906657 Challenge your comfort zone

Engaged + Motivated = Learning http://www.flickr.com/photos/libraryloft/2803968334/ = Learning http://www.flickr.com/photos/jubilo/469517060/

http://www.pssl.com/images/ProdImage01/500/BUBBLE-BLAST.jpg Remember it’s not really about the bubbles …

providing the opportunities to BLOW them It’s about … http://www.flickr.com/photos/53539456@N00/437085000/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahbelle1/520605530 Support lifelong _________ Playing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenmiu/1647193253/ We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing . - George Bernard Shaw

The Big Moo By Seth Godin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swamibu/2264617197/ Stop trying to be perfect and Start Being Remarkable focus on … Play!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crisgorissen/250823872/ Questions?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3l3na88/2539032486/ Helene Blowers Digital Strategy Director Columbus Metropolitan Library Slides @ LibraryBytes.com Thank you !