Saturday, February 16, 2008

Thing 2- Library 2.0

I would like to comment on Stephen Abram's video because he said some interesting things about how he approaches L2. He emphasized that it is about setting priorities, being engaged, and being open to new technologies and ways of interacting that have or will have an impact on your personal and work life. Doing and reflecting is a way to immerse ourselves in new learning experiences. Being engaged in our own learning experience in "23 things on a stick" is a good example of an opportunity to really learn and reflect on some different elements of 2.o. We could just choose to go through the motions and just read about new tools but it won't have much impact unless you are willing to play in the sandbox. Do librarians really want to be left out of the new sandbox?
As a future school library media specialist we've talked a lot about Web 2.0 in our graduate courses and I agree with Blyberg that L2 is not an option for us. It is going on now and as professionals we need to be willing to take the time & energy to enthusiastically embrace its elements and possibilities. We need to understand the tools and be aware of how our patrons are using them and why. We need to participate in however our information world evolves or we will be left behind. Blyberg cites Sarah Houghton's definition of L2 that it is "making the library relevant." I'm excited to be a part of making the library relevant to its users. But we have to pay attention to what the needs and wants of our users are. We cannot dismiss their preferences but should instead want to find a way to be a part of those preferences, to be relevant to users daily lives.
"23 things on a stick" seems to be an easy but powerful way for librarians to get to know some tools, even immersing themselves in them , and to also reflect on how these tools will impact their users, their work, their mission, and they way they serve and interact.

2 comments:

23 Things said...

Hope you plan on keeping on with the Things!

Unknown said...

Hi Margaret!
I see you are following RMR. Will you make the event on the 13th?