2010 Project Wrap-up

The 2010 Project is finally [sot of] finished!  I included the "sort of" because the part that is complete is the initial 10-week roll-out of the program.  The initial group of patrons and library staff who signed up to start in late January / early February had the opportunity to go through the program as it was revealed week-by-week and participate in the contests and receive completion prizes.  Now, however, the 2010 Project website is getting a minor re-vamp and will be made available as a link off of our library website in early May.  This link will remain active through the end of the year.  This will allow participants to go back and explore related resources or try activities they may have skipped the first time through.

Most importantly, opening up the 2010 Project site for the rest of the year will allow people who weren't able to start in the first place a chance to try the program.  Of the 300+ people who initially signed up, 150 (give or take a couple) finished.  The participants generated over 100 pages of comments and suggestions!  Here are a few examples:


"Thanks to the HPL Project Teacher and those who support and sponsor these programs it gives old dogs new tricks…" 

"Thanks for the various topics covered. I would not have known about them otherwise."

"This has been a great resource for the HPL to offer. No where else in Hutchinson would you be able to find such a wealth of knowledge for everyone at no cost. This is especially helpful to us technology challenged senior citizens!"

"The truth is, I have been opened to so many new things that I enjoyed each week for a different reason. Taking this class shows me that although I resist the technology forms of "socializing", I am curious about it and want to join in (on my own terms). What a shame it would be to be left behind in this era of technology.  A great project. thanks, HPL."

"This is a great project and I hope you have more of them in the future. Keeping up with technology is a never-ending process and you're helping us get up to speed on the Information Superhighway - thanks!"


"I would be interested in any other online educational projects you might have in the future. This was quick, fun, and easy and I picked up some information I wouldn't have known about. Learning something new just keeps you that much sharper, and you have to be in this technological world."

"Please keep me on your database list if you do another! Thanks!"

That last comment really gets me to thinking.  When we set out to do this we had NO idea how many people would be interested, nor did we have any way to contact and advertise the project cheaply once we decided to do it.  As it turned out, we were overwhelmed by the response.  So I wonder how people feel about signing up for events with a contact and then having the library, from time-to-time, use those contacts to send out alerts for upcoming events?  Hmm...another new project to work on.