What is a learning organization?
An organization, characterized by a flat structure and customer-focused teams, that acquires knowledge and innovates fast enough to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing environment. Learning organizations (1) create a culture that encourages and supports continuous employee learning, critical thinking, and risk taking with new ideas, (2) allow mistakes, and value employee contributions, (3) learn from experience and experiment, and (4) disseminate the new knowledge throughout the organization for incorporation into day-to-day activities.

Why is it important for my library to know about this concept?
In today's world change is constant. In order to survive an organization must be nimble and customer-focused which will allow it to quickly respond to the needs of its customers and the changes in technology.

Links for further information about learning organizations:
How’s Your Learning Culture? Marcia L. Conner
Creating a Culture of Learning – Lori Reed Webinar
Transitioning to the Learning Organization – Joan Giesecke
(found in LiLI Database Proquest Central)

Libraries = Learning Organizations Part 1 May 14, 2009
Libraries = Learning Organizations Erin McCusker & Shirley Biladeau
Communities of Practice University of Idaho Library Team (Rami Attebury, Geoffrey Wood, Deborah Green, Krisin Henrich, Robert Perret)
Mental Models Richard Wilson
Bibliographyfor Libraries=Learning Organizations

Libraries = Learning Organizations Part 2 -- Online Learning: Is It a Fit For You? August 13, 2009
Left-Hand Column Tool
Successful Online Learning - Pat Wagner
PowerPoint Slides
VARK Questionnaire VARK Questionnaire used with approval of creator Fleming Neil
Discovery reading about self-directed learning:
Self-Directed Learning by Mardziah Hayati Abdullah
Strong Value of Self-Directed Learning in the Workplace by Carter McNamara
Skills for Self-Directed Learning by Huey B. Long

For more information contact
Shirley Biladeau at shirley.biladeau@libraries.idaho.gov or 208-639-4149

Also see: Libraries -- Live Long & Prosper