Saturday, July 14, 2007

Week Six Part Fifteen: Library 2.0 Perspectives

"Librarian 2.0 controls technolust: This librarian does not buy technology for the sake of technology. “Techno-worship” does not exist here. Without a firm foundation in the mission and goals of the institution, new technologies are not implemented for the sake of coolness and status. Technology is put to the test: Does it meet the users need in a new or improved way? Does it create a useful service for putting users together with the information and experience they seek? These are some of the questions this librarian asks when planning for technology. This librarian creates and nurtures a living, breathing technology plan."

Michael Stephens (great last name)
Into the New World of Librarianship

Library 2.0 and 23 Things are avenues to explore new technology that is available and that may be definitive and applicable to the future. But I agree with Stephens that all things bright, shiny (and especially free) are not necessarily helpful in our patrons' lives. I think it is very important to carefully evaluate rather than end up with a 21st century Edsel where "The aim was right but the target moved" (Wikipedia: Edsel)

Library 2.0 is a way to track what other library systems are implementing, where they are succeeding, where they are not, and what's new and practical that I can use on the reference desk or in class offerings.


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