Productive Day Yesterday
Looking forward to supporting library colleagues with exploring Gemini
It was a quiet today at the library where I work part-time. As a result, I’ve had time to start a draft of a presentation for our staff development day in May. I’m flattered and honored that my colleagues here have asked me to deliver a keynote at this event. We all know that it’s difficult to be a prophet in your own land, so this was a bit of a pleasant surprise for me.
My tentative plan is deliver a customized presentation on getting started with generative AI from a library worker’s perspective and address some of the concerns people might have. I’ve chosen the theme of considering Gemini a colleague, not as a replacement for a librarian or library worker. I’ve drafted a pre-session survey to gauge my colleagues’ interests and concerns and a rough draft of a presentation in Gamma.
Here’s a draft of my presentation.
As a follow up, I’m going to ask my colleagues to participate in a fun 30-day challenge in which we explore various tasks in Gemini and share results to a group Google chat space. If they complete the challenge, they’ll get a badge and perhaps our staff development committee will throw in a prize of some sort. This is idea was inspired by those 23 things PD lists that were popular in education PD a few years ago.
Here’s the challenge (developed in Gemini with my guidance):
🤖 The 30-Day Gemini Colleague Challenge
Exploring AI at Our Library
Welcome to the Gemini Colleague Challenge!
This is about curiosity, experimentation, and discovering how AI can support (not replace) your professional judgment.
You do not need to:
Complete all 25 activities
Do them in order
Use the exact sample prompts
You do need to try.
Spend 5–10 minutes per activity. Keep it light. Keep it curious.
👉 Important: The sample prompts are starting points.
Feel free to adapt, remix, or completely deviate from them.
If you have a better idea — try it. Creativity counts.
🏅 Earn Your Gemini Badge
Complete ANY 12 activities within 30 days = Gemini Explorer
Complete 18 or more = Gemini Power User
To qualify, you must share at least 3 outputs or reflections in the dedicated challenge chat.
📣 Share Your Work Here (Required for Badge)
Gemini Colleague Challenge Chat:
link removed
You can:
Access the Google Chat directly through Gmail
OREmail an output to:
(special email address for our Google Chat; it’s possible to email results to this address and content is posted in the Google Chat )
Sharing helps everyone learn faster.
🌟 The Challenge List
You may complete these in any order.
☐ 1. Write in a Different Voice
Why: Builds comfort and creativity.
Try: Write a humorous book recommendation in the voice of a pirate librarian.
Or choose any book and any unexpected personality.
☐ 2. Create Local Trivia
Why: Instant programming material.
Try: Create 10 trivia questions about our town or state.
Level up: Ask for easy, medium, and difficult versions.
☐ 3. Turn a Book Into a Trailer
Why: Great for teen engagement and social media.
Try: Write a 60-second movie trailer script for a classic novel.
Alternative: Ask for a TikTok-style version.
☐ 4. Invent Display Themes
Why: Fresh ideas fast.
Try: Suggest 20 creative book display themes with catchy names.
☐ 5. Write a Library Poem
Why: Low-stakes experimentation builds fluency.
Try: Write a short poem about working at a busy reference desk.
☐ 6. Generate Staff Icebreakers
Why: Saves meeting prep time.
Try: Create 8 thoughtful icebreaker questions for library staff.
☐ 7. Improve an Announcement
Why: AI excels at tone adjustments.
Try: Rewrite an existing announcement to sound more engaging and welcoming.
Bonus: Ask for three tone options (formal, friendly, energetic).
☐ 8. Rewrite a Policy in Plain Language
Why: Supports accessibility and clarity.
Try: Rewrite a library policy in clear, public-friendly language.
☐ 9. Draft a Difficult Patron Response
Why: Helps neutralize emotional language.
Try: Draft a calm, professional response to a patron upset about overdue fines.
☐ 10. Summarize Something Long
Why: Speeds information processing.
Try: Summarize a long article or vendor document in 5 bullet points.
Variation: Ask for a one-sentence summary and a one-paragraph summary.
☐ 11. Turn Notes Into Action Steps
Why: Gemini is strong at structure.
Try: Convert meeting notes into clear action steps with suggested roles.
☐ 12. Create Book Club Questions
Why: Saves prep time.
Try: Generate 10 discussion questions for a recent bestseller.
Variation: Ask for beginner and advanced versions.
☐ 13. Write Beginner Tech Instructions
Why: Builds consistency in tech help support.
Try: Write step-by-step instructions for downloading an app on an iPhone for a senior audience.
☐ 14. Create Multi-Format Messaging
Why: One idea → multiple formats.
Try: Create an email, website blurb, and 3 social posts promoting an upcoming event.
☐ 15. Brainstorm for an Underserved Audience
Why: Expands perspective.
Try: Suggest 10 program ideas for adults 65+ who rarely attend programs.
☐ 16. Improve a Program Description
Why: Increase clarity and attendance.
Try: Analyze a program description and suggest improvements to increase participation.
☐ 17. Role-Play a Patron Interaction
Why: Safe practice space.
Try: Ask Gemini to act as a frustrated patron whose eBook won’t download. Practice your response.
☐ 18. Design a Staff Training
Why: Saves internal prep time.
Try: Create a 45-minute staff training outline on digital privacy basics.
☐ 19. Build a Checklist
Why: AI is strong at procedural thinking.
Try: Create a step-by-step checklist for preparing a monthly program report.
☐ 20. Analyze a Workflow
Why: Moves from drafting into systems thinking.
Try: Share a workflow and ask for 3 efficiency improvements.
☐ 21. Draft a Mini Grant Outline
Why: Provides a strong starting framework.
Try: Create a one-page grant outline for a digital literacy initiative.
☐ 22. Identify Community Blind Spots
Why: Surfaces assumptions we may miss.
Try: Based on a short description of our library, what blind spots might we have in serving the community?
☐ 23. Ask for Bold Innovation
Why: Strategic use > tactical use.
Try: Suggest 3 bold but realistic improvements NPL could implement this year.
☐ 24. Create an FAQ Page
Why: AI can anticipate common confusion.
Try: Draft an FAQ page for Tech Tuesday or another recurring service.
☐ 25. Reflect on Responsible AI Use
Why: Turns experimentation into insight.
Try: Based on these activities, where could Gemini most responsibly support staff at our library?
Share your reflection in the challenge chat.
🧠 Reflection (Required for Badge)
To earn your badge, post:
One prompt that surprised you
One output you revised or improved
One way you might realistically use Gemini going forward
Post in the Gemini Colleague Challenge Chat.
Feel free to steal or borrow! What other activities would you add?
This is “Playing With AI!” I love it!
Great ideas here. Love that “why” is included!!