Week 6 #15 - Blogging on Library 2.0

I like the idea of library 2.0. I think the concepts behind it speak to our mission to provide equal access to information for our customers. Opening up the way we do this to allow two-way communication improves the quality of information we share, helps us better understand the information needs of our community, and serves as an important opportunity for outreach.

As circulation numbers decrease, we need to show that we are still relevant, and having a strong online presence is a big part of that. Books are still a huge part of our service, but Internet access, online information searching, and things like online "ask a librarian" services are becoming more important and we need to change to address needs as they arise. I also think creating opportunities for customers to participate like they do in sharing book reviews online is a great way to keep people connected the the library.

I also liked what I read about web 2.0 (and library 2.0 for that matter) having a beta release model that is open to user feedback and change. Releasing programs in beta format shows a keen interest in experimentation, and in order for libraries to keep up with the times, we need to be open to trying new things. They may not always work, but we always learn a lot in trying.

Finally, the discussion on web 3D and web 4.0 was a little puzzling to me, but that is just a sign that I need to do more reading on the topic. I think that while we are working on developing library 2.0 ideas, it is also important to keep an eye out on the horizon.