Thing 2.0: L2

Why blog about L2 when we could blog about CB2 or even L7? The simple answer is because it is the assigment. The mere truth is that it impacts my job, well, all my jobs.

Librarians have embraced the web and now Libraries 2.0 in different ways. To quote the beloved Mary Manderfeld, "Life is change. Growth is optional." With the fast paced changes that come with L2, librarians have had to make quick decisions about what to incorporate and how these new technologies change the way service is provided to patrons. The decision making process has not always been pretty nor easy, but adapting to and integrating new techologies is a necessity. For at their core, libraries are about providing access to information as well as meaningful and helpful service to patrons.


At school, L2 is making inroads. Assignments like blog journals for outside reading have replaced making web pages. Students are asking to use their own laptops on the building wireless system. Despite their age and ability to click fast though, their searching and navigating skills not to mention analysis of materials found still need work. (Thank goodness--job security!) Teachers embrace the new technologies differently and librarian/media specialists are called to help support these new curricular initiatives. My building prefers to study and analzye before jumping in, surely creating frustration for those in charge. At the same time, schools also serve as "in loco parentis" and teachers want to make sure that these new technologies have a sound educational base and are indeed "what's best for kids."

At my other jobs, I observe the libraries looking at L2 and slowly making use of what is available. Like most places, there are early adopters, those who were asking to set up internal wikis over two years ago and those who stubbornly refuse to particpate. Those who are change adverse or who simply don't want to learn new things are being challenged to do so by their patrons. The patrons are seeing what is possible and are asking for those things; libraries, to some extent, must respond accordingly.

Like everything, it's about balance, but in an era when information and access are the new currency , libraries are posed to once again prove that they are invaluable. Thomas Friedman knows of such things. Check out his webcast from the 2005 National Book Festival hosted by the Library of Congress.