t realize so many are saying the same thing. One I read was 'Into a New World for Librarianship' . The library must keep up with current technology in order to provide the most current information and assist its patrons/users with their needs. When making decisions about software and other resources, libraries should make decisions responsibly and quickly as the web is moving at a rapid pace and some resources become outdated in brief amounts of time. Libraries shouldn't be designed with what is best for the library and its staff but how it can best serve those who frequent it. So a library's mission statement may need to be changed. Existing libraries should evolve with Web 2.0 and incorporate its resources into everyday library activities. The web can help libraries update information, quickly collaborate with other libraries, and keep in the loop of news that might impact future services. Librarians help users design their own personal content on blogs, wikis, mashups, etc. The library has to have the knowledge and software to help facilitation. Finally, each staff member and user should be able to provide input and allowed to play and learn.I'd like to think we all know this. Change is difficult but in this instance libraries may become obscure if we don't. Though much of our population is aging, the younger generation is so plugged in, we need to set up library resources to accomodate and assist them as well as continue to provide traditional methods. For our libraries, I don't see any other choice but to keep current with all of the web technology. That is what the library 2.0 is about. Evolving to keep up with the patrons in our libraries and their needs.
For me, this means I have a lot of learning to do. This class is helping me experiment and explore a small amount of what is on the web. I need to know what the kids are using so I can converse with them as well as assist them. There is a lot more exploring to do. It has been fun sharing what I am learning with my own kids as well as collaborating with them on some mashups.
For my school and education in general, we need more professional development on the web. Many educators are interested but have little time and haven't signed up for classes like this to learn more. The students we have now learn differently than those I had 20 years ago. Laptops, internet, communication technology and the video gaming world were not as they are now. This is what so many students today use in their personal lives. They are comfortable with them and so we need to be as well.
Professional development is the key especially for those of us who are digital immigrants. However, I think it is important to remember that despite the fact that our kids are very familiar with tech. they don't always know how to use it effectively and that is where we come into it as librarians and educators.
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