There has been so much discussion through the library blogs about Library 2.0 - is believed to have been first coined by Michael Casey on his blog Library Crunch. It has yet to be properly defined, in fact much of the discussion has been about what it is exactly.
However, within its core is using the elements of Web 2.0, which I explored in a previous post. It is libraries using blogs, wikis, social bookmarking and so much more to bring new and improved services to their current AND to reach out to non-users in a new and appealing (to them) way. It is another means of drawing more people to use the library.
I won’t say any more about that discussion here, as there is so of it and it is still very much ongoing. Instead I will refer you onto a lot of great reading that I encountered about what Library 2.0 is and what it means for libraries in all sectors.
Of course, being a Web 2.0 initiative means that there is a Wikipedia entry. Aaron at Walking Paper highlights the getting out there aspect, Michael Stephens at Tame the Web is enthusiastic about what the technology can be used for and the ALA TechSource blog has a number of entries from different authors with varying perspectives.
Rochelle at Tinfoil + Raccoon brings a hefty dose of reality, with the difficulties for libraries who don’t have the expertise or access to bring some of these technologies into their library and John Blyberg from blyberg.net brings an interesting view from a library service which is leading Library 2.0 type developments in the US.
Dave contributes in dave’s blog about whether it is all about technology and Steven M Cohen who has mainly stayed away from Library 2.0 hype gives his considered opinion at Library Stuff. The big reads in this discussion have been Talis with their white paper“Do libraries matter: the rise of Library 2.0″ and library guru Walt Crawford’s great overview on everybody’s view in a special issue of Cites and Insights entitled “Library 2.0 and “Library 2.0″.”
All of these links are to particular articles in each blog. If you are interested, search around each blog and you will find plenty more.
That’s enough to keep anyone occupied for some time, it did for me!
And my opinion on all this? My opinion has wavered around quite a bit with all the reading that I have been doing and is still subject to change, considering any future developments and personal experiences. However, this is where I am at present.
With the plateauing of library use, our service has started reaching out to our users in more and new ways than ever before. This has included database, online book discussions, school visits, more community interaction and much more. I am also seeing the explosion of Web 2.0 tools being used in a myriad of ways. So I think that Library 2.0 has been going on for a while, that it is a reaching out to our current AND potential users in ways not done or envisaged before, the only thing new about it is the Web 2.0 tools that will become a part of that process. How big a part is yet to be determined, but as I am well aware, not all of our users are tech savvy and/or interested in these tools and they have as much right to be reached as those who are.
My part in this outreach will be more along the lines of the technology, but there are many others in my library service who will be reaching out in others way. We can all do our part and support each other in our endeavours. No one way is more important that another and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
