#10 Web 2.0 and Libraries

AN INTERESTING RIDE. . .
Librarians and library staff with years of library experience have been on an interesting ride over the past twenty years. In the early 1980s computer use in libraries began as a keen new way to locate books via the online catalog and later for researching and finding articles on CD ROM databases such as Proquest and Newsbank. Library patrons for the most part were leery of those electronic boxes, but slowly over the years warmed up to the idea of using computers and with each new generation, dependence on computer usage is becoming the norm.

The introduction of the Internet into libraries in approximately 1993-4 had a profound affect on the future of the library and the dissemination of information. Today's major dependence on computers revolves around access to the Internet. Today's library provides quick access to the online catalog, countless downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, hundreds of subject specific research databases and 24/7 access to many other library offerings on the library's website.

Online availability of books and periodicals have reduced the size of library print collections. This is especially true of reference collections. Why purchase expensive reference titles for all libraries within a library system, when a vendor provides it in an online format and all the libraries can share?

THE LIBRARY AS A COMPUTER LAB
...and the library does not have enough computers to fill this need.
With the introduction of online social networking sites such as Bebo, Facebook, Xanga, and Myspace, we have seen a new wave of Internet excitement or should I say frenzy in the library. The generation of teens and young adults (even some older patrons) sees the library simply as a computer lab where they can text, chat, email or post messages, pictures and videos to hundreds of their friends.

LIBRARIANS GO 2.0
Youth librarians are hopping on the bandwagon by joining these social networks and creating library sites for these young patrons to visit and learn about what the library has to offer them. Youth and adult services librarians are also creating wikis and blogs that will help involve the library in the library of these techno-savvy patrons.

DO YOU HAVE AN AVATAR?
In addition to social network sites, online computer games are very popular. Kids and adults use library computers to interact with an international array of real-time players. Second Life, a virtual reality world is fast becoming a means of communication. What seems like just another one of those online computer games actually has some credibility as a means of communication and education. A few colleges and universities have a presence in this virtual world. Some may view it as a future means of conducting online courses. Seems far fetched now, but don't count it out. Download Second Life and you can create an avatar - your own online alter ego. My husband says that most people are having a hard enough time figuring out their "First Life." I guess we will just have to see how things are in five years. Will Second Life sites be the norm?

LIBRARIANS SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED MINDED
Librarians need to become adept in being techno-savvy. We are teachers. We need to be able to help patrons set up email accounts, social networking accounts, create blogs, do photosharing, access and download ebooks to computers and mp3 players. Let's face it, the library is an ever changing info-animal and we need to know how to feed it and help it survive.

PATRONS SHOULD BE AWARE OF VALUABLE LIBRARY RESOURCES
Whenever possible, when you have an "educatable" moment with a patron, make them aware of all the fantastic online subscription databases that the library offers them. Public library patrons are for the most part, not aware of these valuable resources. Librarians too, tend to just automatically "Google" when a patron needs information and do not use these databases to their fullest extent.