Week Eight

I like this definition of Library 2.0 (L2) given by Sarah Houghton:
“Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.” (http://www.blyberg.net/2006/01/09/11-reasons-why-library-20-exists-and-matters/)

I especially like the idea of making the library relevant. It seems that if one of our goals is to increase our user base, we need to appeal to a wide variety of individuals. Some will continue to use our physical spaces, but some [gasp] may never step foot in a library. L2 seems like a good idea, not the ultimate solution, but a start. I have always liked the idea of libraries as community centers where information is a dynamic shared entity. L2 fits nicely into this definition. It facilitates the flow of information and ideas through social networking.

It seems there are some simple things we could be doing right now, such as include video clips on our website of library programs, especially children’s programming, develop subject guide wikis and incorporate tagging in the catalog may facilitate access to more materials.