librarytwopointzero: Libraries, Librarians & Library 2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

 

Welcome to Libraries, Librarians & Library 2.0, an analysis of how libraries and librarians have adapted Library 2.0 technologies to their activities. I’ve subtitled my blog “Assessing the Reality,” but a better one might be “Libraries, Librarians, and Library 2.0: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” In this blog, I intend to cast a critical eye on libraries that have made efforts to embrace the social networking aspects of Web 2.0.

I think that many libraries are scrambling to keep up with the exponential changes brought about by new technologies. There is considerable debate about whether librarians should embrace Web 2.0 or not (see the next post for more on the debate).

What exactly is Library 2.0?

Who really knows? Yet it’s one of the most controversial aspects of librarianship in the early 21st century.

In essence, we can say that Library 2.0 is the adaptation of Web 2.0 technologies to enhance the library’s image and, in turn, increase their circulation/entrance figures. I like the following quote on the subject because it at least admits that part of this embracing of technology is reactionary:

Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives … to make the library a destination and not an afterthought (my emphasis).

- Sarah Houghton, Librarian in Black.

The last time I checked my local library, it seemed pretty busy to me. But then again, my “system” (the Vancouver Public Library) has embraced Library 2.0. Which raises the question: How do we measure the impact of these media?

It’s hard to say how many libraries have joined the Library 2.0 bandwagon. For a list of some that have, please see “The List” which has links to libraries using 2.0 compiled by my Professor, Dr. Mary Sue Stephenson.

But just how well are libraries and librarians doing with these new social media? Sometimes (like Vancouver Public Library’s MySpace), the results are ridiculously atrocious. Some, like the British Library, have decided to join the world of YouTube, perhaps to reach out to a younger audience. The BL’s video is interesting, but alas, not too many YouTubers have viewed it.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on Libraries, Librarians & Library 2.0. I think you’ll find that I’m a bit of a sceptic (hence the “library two point zero” moniker). Then again, these technologies are new and we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. I hope you enjoy the ride, and feel free to add your thoughts to mine.

mfm999

 

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Manifestos or Kool-Aid?

STUDENTS AT LANGARA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN VANCOUVER ENJOYING THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENTALLY “GREEN” LIBRARY. SADLY, THE LIBRARY IS THE ONLY SPACE ON CAMPUS WITH WIRELESS ACCESS.

 

“A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING LIBRARIANSHIP—THE SPECTRE OF LIBRARY 2.0.” — the Annoyed Librarian

After reading the Annoyed Librarian’s rant, “A Librarian’s Anti-2.0 Manifesto, I wanted to balance it with something pro-manifesto. As I wanted to jazz up my blog a bit, I went to YouTube to see what might be available (there’s always something available on YouTube). Eventually I came across this pro-manifesto video:

 

That’s a lot of “I wills” for the average librarian to commit to.

It seems to me that this librarian, Laura Cohen, drank the whole pitcher of Kool-Aid at the Burning Man festival in the desert and then forgot to get back to her library.

Now, let’s take a closer look at Libraries, Librarians & Library 2.0 around the world. We’ll start in Canada:

 

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