Thing 16: Library 2.0

Reading and understanding the concept of Library 2.0. I started with the first listed link:

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/2.htm.

On some points I agree with him and on some points I am unsure. We are in Nebraska, and many of the patrons that frequent my library are very Internet inept. But since we are so small helping people individually is not an issue. There is no 600:1 ratio here. I do foresee a time when even small town libraries will have to offer more online, but for now I have found that most of the patrons who visit here are looking for books in print and access to the library's public use computers, as they have no access at home. In fact until I get my patrons up to speed on computer and Internet usage there is no reason to offer Internet resources.

Next, I went on the the second link:

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/3.htm

And one thing that he wrote that was simply an exemplary quote was,

"This librarian understands that the future of libraries will be guided by how users access, consume and create content."

And this is the most simple yet profound comment I have read today. We as libraries have to understand our patrons, the way that they want to access our content and provide them options that are convenient to them. Does that mean offering everything online? Not unless your patrons all have computers and Internet access and are too busy to leave their cars houses and offices, even briefly. I do not see this is as the current state of things in rural Nebraska. Yet it is definitely the state of things in bigger cities. Knowing this, and knowing that such things will begin trickling down into our own communities allows us to prepare for the new technologies that will help us remain an integral part of the lives of the communities around us.

Last I chose the last link for Library 2.0 debased:

http://www.blyberg.net/2008/01/17/library-20-debased/

Here the author makes a lot of good points about libraries becoming too technology based, and how only a specific segment of the population is using this content that is aimed at everyone. Having personally come from a bigger city back to the rural Nebraska area, I know how technologically advanced things are getting. But honestly that creep has not extended to the rural areas nearly as much. I have to help almost all of my patrons with basic computer skills. This tells me that much of my library's patron population has not learned as much about technology. And many of my patrons are retired. These folks know next to nothing about computers and want to know even less. So when we do offer online books, and online content we are going to have to realize that the main patrons with this interest will be younger, probably high school age up to late twenties, or early thirties.