Library 2.0 (thing 15)

This webpage provides a handy collection of Library 2.0 blog posts and articles. Since it is the by-product of a course, it very nicely starts off with several definitions of “Library 2.0”.

Library 2.0:
A user-focused paradigm centered on continuing to serve current customers while reaching out to potential customers; embracing new ideas and technologies that revitalize delivery models for services and encourage participation and collaboration as new models and services are developed and evaluated. A framework that supports rapid change, flexible organization structure and the re-evaluation of all aspects of traditional library service with the “end goal of usability and findability in mind”.
(Michael Casey; Michael Stevens; John Blyberg)

Blogger David Lee King has come up with a spectrum for Library 2.0 with traditional libraries (Luddites) on one extreme and ultra Library 2.0 at the other. His post and the graphic representation of this spectrum is here. It is very interesting and thought provoking. I don’t think that the term Luddite was perhaps the best one (that is always better as a verbal joke during a presentation), but his placement of certain behaviors could certainly shake up a few folks who thought they were doing just fine with technology.

So… my thoughts. I think that this is truly where libraries need to go – and I’m on-board for this. Constant up-dating of technology skills for staff will be an on-going need. It will be a challenge to figure out what is useful and what is simply a fad. (I still think that Second Life is a fad.) But here is what David King has to say about new technologies, like twitter:

“With emerging trends, you really should play with the stuff you’re interested in, and let others mess with things that don’t interest you. But then - and this is important - SHARE. So with Twitter, I’ll watch twitter and tell you if I find something useful for libraries. You go watch something else, and report back, too - that’s how the blogosphere works! Make sense?” David Lee King, Twitter Explained for Librarians

And that makes sense to me. If you can’t see a use for something, how successful are you going to be at learning and implementing it? OTOH, once some other folks have knocked the bugs out, a really cool application may have developed and then ALL WILL HAVE BEEN MADE CLEAR.