Learning about Web 2.0

Technology has been changing libraries, or at least how we interact with information and with people, and, it is becoming apparent, will continue to change us at an ever increasing rate. I watched both videos, read the Blyberg post and tried to read the first half of the lengthier one. I liked Stephen Abram's comment that we are putting people back into information technology. "Shifted librarian" focused on the sharing, trading, and collaborating aspects of the new technology. That reminded me of something I read recently on the Millenial generation and their preference for being part of a group, team or community. Much of Web 2.0 is being driven by the younger generations, so this change is going to be inevitable and librarians need to find the most useful aspects and apply them to our services and communication with our public.

At the same time, I was reading comments about making organizational and budgetary choices and decisions, and that some services or activities might have to give way to the new. I think we should be careful to remember our entire mission here, which is to serve all of our population. We will undoubtedly have to make budgetary decisions, we already are--which databases to retain, which expensive reference print resource to eliminate, which department gets a new staff person, if anyone does, what percentage of our budget is going to which part of the collection (print and nonprint). It is critical that we do not neglect the users who still feel more comfortable with, or indeed only know how to use, the traditional library services. Retirees may have 20-30 years of life and will need and expect library services. They won't all want to learn to use e-mail, blogs, and online databases. The baby-boomer generation (of which I am one of the first wave) is still vital, working (many with computers), and learning new things. Most of us have some level of computer knowledge, and some are really engaged. Do not refer to retirees and baby boomers as if our needs do not matter as much as the younger generations. We vote, and we pay taxes--many baby boomers are at the height of their income producing years.

This is an exciting time to be in our profession. Let's make our choices wisely, and those choices many vary from community to community.