Thing # 15: Web 2.0, Library 2.0 & the Future of Libraries

Library 2.0 embraces in librarianship what every enterprise in the world should embrace: the desire to serve other people in the best possible way, the effort to be as efficient as possible in serving others, the desire to empower others and make them as strong as possible, the desire to share everything at one's disposal as well as that which one knows is available, the desire to enable others to learn from and grow from each other, and the desire to enable others to create from their talents the best they have to offer the world and make a contribution to the world that will improve it and benefit those who live in it. That is what Library 2.0 means to me. It is a very human perspective. I think everything in the world that involves people should always have these values in mind at its core.

It is a complicated thing to apply Library 2.0 to school libraries. They differ so much in their values and resources. We have heard in many of our classes how we must continually strive to get all the resources possible for our libraries- to give our students the same benefits that many other students in other libraries have. This could take on the appearance of bake sales to save money for a technological update, or it could mean presenting a Powerpoint to the school board about the need for a better library automation system. The bottom line is that school libraries are a gateway to the world for students. If we do not open it as big and wide for them as we know it can be opened, they are missing out on what they could get before they move on to the next steps of their education process. It is like we are depriving them of seeing a wonderful part of the world that we already know exists, but that they do not. It is a sad thing. So, librarians in schools should always strive to give their students the use of all the tools that we know are available, with the goal of enabling them to think for themselves and to learn to solve problems. This is what a good library does- it teaches students how to create new ideas on their own and solve problems, which they will need to do if they are to succeed in life.

I read "To More Powerful Ways to Cooperate" and "Into a New World of Librarianship". I liked the latter better. I agree that the library has to be a socially and emotionally engaging center for learning and experience. Most students are interpersonal learners. And we all come from relationships at home where we are emotionally engaged (hopefully). So, it should not be a cold, stale relationship that we offer them in the school library. They should be invited to share with their peers and librarians in creating something new and exciting- by using tools that are also new and exciting. These are the points in that article that help us to provide this for students (according to this article):
**Offer a "strategy guide" for helping users find information and create something unique. (Michael Stevens)
**Base the library methods and materials on the needs and desires of the users, instead of deciding in secret how it will be. (Michael Stevens)
**Use Web 2.0 tools like IM, Web blogs, wikis, mashups, participate in successful on-line communities to see what is out there and why users are involved. This helps decide on library tools. (Michael Stevens)
**Don't buy all the technology there is to buy. Purchase technology that meets the users' needs in a new and improved way. Use it to create a useful service with information and experiences they seek. (Michael Stevens)
**Make good and fast decisions regarding the library by using journals, studies, and blogs about libraries. (Michael Stevens)
**Watch the business world to set trends in the library based on the business world. Adjust the library based on the trends observed to better prepare students for their futures. (Michael Stevens)
**"Understand that the future of libraries will be guided by how users access, consume and create content. Help users become their own programming director for all the content that is available to them." (Michael Stevens)
**Take staff and users' experiences into account to constantly improve the library. (Michael Stevens)

He had some really powerful and insightful ideas. This is a good summary of them.