Thing #15

I read perspectives "Away from icebergs" and "To a temporary place in time" in order to respond to the below-mentioned questions.

Library 2.0. It's many things to many people.

What does it mean to you?

"Library 2.0 is a loosely defined model for a modernized form of library service that reflects a transition within the library world in the way that services are delivered to users. The focus is on user-centered change and participation in the creation of content and community" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_2.0).

Library 2.0 means more information at my fingertips, but more frustration at the realization that the school and library environment is not keeping up with the needs of the consumer. Library 2.0 means the ability to participate in the "salon" concept of learning and discussion developed in France in the 19th century, but the inability of public schools to adapt to useful new technologies. Library 2.0 means knowing that there are wonderful online teaching tools I can share with my students, but that I can't share them with them because the time it takes to stream a video takes up the entire teaching hour. Library 2.0 means that the majority of my exciting exploration for work must take place at home and not work because work has not given me sufficient tools or time to explore.

What does it mean to school libraries?

It means that the public school system, the classroom, and school libraries need to be totally revamped, as well as the way the student communicates with the teacher, and vice versa. It means that librarians need to find ways to give information quickly and easily to both teachers and students. It means less books on the shelf but an increased ability to get books and information to patrons more quickly (not waiting a week for a book/dvd/cd).