The Vancouver Public Library has embraced Library 2.0. The library’s portal offers a link to videos posted on YouTube and, with a little bit of digging, one can find a MySpace profile and other Library 2.0 features.

Let’s start with the MySpace profile and get that out of the way. One has to wonder how this could possibly influence anyone to all of a sudden decide that VPL is cool and hip. Anthropomorphizing the library as a “person” seems strange, at least to me. Do we really need to know that VPL is a 26-year-old female in a relationship? What does that mean? What does the featured video have to do with anything? VPL’s “interests” are equally baffling. Here we have a list of links that might be of interest to the Google Generation: music, manga, and movies. Whoever established this “space” is not keeping it very current, either: the last time it was edited was way back in September 2007 (the profile was created in 2006). The “blog” attached to this profile hasn’t been updated for almost a year and includes exactly two posts, both concerning job searches, which may be of interest to some MySpacers. However, all in all, the MySpace profile for VPL seems rather tragic to me. In fact, if I were in charge of things, I’d have it taken off the Web.

This year, VPL did a major redesign and overhaul of its website. I’m a huge fan: it’s crisp, modern, and easy to navigate. However, others must find it a bit of a challenge, so the library has decided to post four tutorial videos on their website and YouTube (the library just joined YouTube a couple of weeks ago, so its menu of Library 2.0 options seems to be increasing rapidly). These instructional videos include: Getting to Know the New Site; Digging Deeper; Electronic Resources; and Research on the New Site.

Here’s the first one:

Pretty fuzzy, eh? That’s a pretty crappy screencast. I thought my eyes were going wonky from my Internet addiction and the hours I need to spend online just in order to become a librarian. Nonetheless, the YouTube logo on VPL’s website does jump out and will probably grab those who are interested in visual learning. It’s just too bad the quality is so poor. Also, the YouTube version of “Research” cuts out after 22 seconds (the VPL site’s version also cuts out early, but lasts for 2:36.

Under the Find Books, DVDs & More …  link, VPL offers patrons the option of sharing their thoughts on the following social networks: del.icio.us; DiggAdd; Ma.gnolia; StumbleUpon; and Technorati. These networks are described in brief blurbs on the Research Guides link. I suppose this would be useful and interesting to some, just not me.

Who has time for all these new social media? Certainly not this grad student.

I thought that the library already had RSS feeds for New, Popular & Recommended Books and DVDs, but, according to one page, that feature “will be available soon.” (Note: this has changed since I published this post; I think the response time for fixing this “electronic glitch” was pretty good). RSS Feeds at Vancouver Public Library offers concise explanations of RSS and how to subscribe, including DVDs and Popular Fiction.

It seems that, recently, VPL has been adding new Library 2.0 features every other week.

I think this is one library that is just now catching up with Web 2.0 and, overall, doing a pretty good job of it. I’m a fan.

BOTTOM LINE: Good. I find it difficult to criticize a past employer. I truly love VPL and think that it is moving in the right direction with integrating Library 2.0 features into its electronic world. With the glaring exception of the MySpace space and a few minor electronic hiccups, all is well in VPL-landia. 

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