it's easy to become fascinated with all of the cool things that can be done using ITs and ICTs; it takes some doing to reign in that enthusiasm and consider how the new technology will improve or enhance library services, staff communication & collaboration. for instance, i like the idea of creating a wiki as a one-stop place to go for ready reference and updates on library procedures, but it will only be an effective tool if most staff refer and add to the wiki.
i've pretty much labeled any technology that encourages user creation, collaboration, and communication as part of this web 2.0 phenomenom. the read/write web depends on information being simultaneosly pushed and pulled by users, flowing in multiple directions at once. yada yada...
and then i read Meredith Farkas' definition of web 2.0 and realized how little i've really considered its potential and possibilities. in her blog Information Wants To Be Free, Meredith writes,
I’ve tried to define Library 2.0 for myself. I see it as:
* Working to meet changing user
needs - get to know your users and non-users, develop a culture of assessment,
examine any and all assumptions about how services and systems should “be”,
visiting other libraries and remembering what it is to be a patron, and then
changing once you’ve figured it all out.
* Believing in our users - trusting
them, listening to them, giving them a role in helping to define library
services for the future
* Getting rid of the culture of perfect - being able
and willing to experiment, learning from failure, being agile as an
organization, continuously improving services based on feedback rather than
working behind the scenes for ages to create the “perfect” product or service
* Being aware of emerging technologies and opportunities - looking for
partnerships in your community or with other libraries, being aware of library
and technology trends, giving staff time to try out new technologies and learn
* Looking outside of the library world for applications, opportunities,
inspiration -understanding the culture of the technologies and how they are used
by the public, seeing how technologies are implemented in non-profit and
for-profit institutions
i especially appreciate her comment that web 2.0 should be encouraging
libraries to assess our communities more, using technologies to meet the
changing need of our users.
Bloglines is a great feed reader (for blogs, news, jokes - have you been to Overheard in New York? It can get a bit crude, but it's often quite humorous) and the beta version makes it even easier to quickly skim the articles from different sites at once. My new favorite, however, is netvibes (see screenshot above). I use this as my home page because it conveniently aggregates my emails, to do list, selected news and book review sites, and library & technology blogs. If you don't like the look or feel of netvibes, you might also try pageflakes.
