Library 2.0

The wide range of new ways to find and share knowledge is wonderful, and no one can argue that it is changing the library. It affects us as librarians and as library users, and that can be one of the best ways to learn to serve our customers well: grasping how we, as users, would like to be served.

One of the resources for this lesson referred to the need to remove barriers. Technology is often mysterious, and the ones who understand how to use it sometimes don't understand how to help others use it. Our job as Librarian 2.0 must be to learn to use the tools to provide resources without barriers. This Library 2.0 program is a good start.

The next step will be for the Librarian 2.0 to be encouraged to do that job. The library needs a blog, it needs text messaging for reference, it needs to be unafraid of using technology. Access to the library's resources must be made easier. Why do customers prefer Google to the catalog? Because they don't feel like they have to know the "correct" terms - who talks about "cookery," anyway?

All the talk about the new directions for libraries is exciting, but also a little saddening. I don't want to lose a quiet place where I can handle books and choose some good reading to take home. I don't want to lose the place where I can ask a question and receive a personalized response. With these concerns running through my mind, I was pleased to read the Library 4.0 prediction that the value of libraries will be in the experience. If libraries survive, it will be by being something we can't get anywhere else, not just the print and e-resources or computers and the latest technology, but an experience that is unique.

Tagging the Blog

Sounds a little like a Wild Kingdom show I saw once when Marlin Perkins suddenly yelled, "Time to topple the camel!" and he ran over and actually pushed the poor thing over.

Hobby blogs are interesting, especially when they offer tips and help for solving challenges. Some of my interests are quilting, knitting, reading, and creating items for my dollhouse. The dollhouse items are usually tiny little quilts, knitted afgans, and books. See a pattern here?

Re-Del.icio.us

This was a good chance to become reacquainted with Del.icio.us. A friend had told me a couple of years ago about this terrific tool for carrying your bookmarks with you anywhere a computer is available. I don't believe the toolbar buttons were available at that time, or (is it possible?) I just didn't understand about loading them. For whatever reason, I thought the idea was great, but it seemed a little clunky, always having to be logged into Del.icio.us to save a favorite site, so I never really got into it.

Now that I have gone back into it, I found the links I'd added at that time, and it was interesting to see how many other people also liked the same ones. I also think having the toolbar buttons available will prompt me to more frequent savings.

Whether it is such a good research tool or not is questionable. I feel it is a little like Wikipedia: a lot of people linking, but how reliable are they? Social, definitely.