Will Require: Browsing sites that have information about libraries and Web 2.0 technologyTime: @30 minutes (though you could easily spend more if you're having fun!)
Well, it has been a long crazy trip through the world of Web 2.0 and the emerging land of Library 2.0. We’ve seen a lot of new things and discussed a variety of topics. Even though you might not use these tools in your library or in your personal life, your patrons might use these tools on a daily basis. Hopefully these explorations have made you feel more comfortable in discussing this new media.
Now, let’s take a moment and go back to the video from Exploration 1: The Machine is Us/ing Us. Does it make more sense now that you are a bit more familiar with Web 2.0?
You’ve learned a lot during these nine little explorations but Web 2.0 is evolving and changing every day. Just like pop stars on the Billboard music charts, new websites and web tools are released each week and some achieve their 15 minutes of fame and fade away while others stay on top again and again. Here is a list of Web 2.0 Award winners from 2007 (compiled by the SEOmoz consulting firm, which helps organizations utilize Web 2.0 resources). Take a look at the variety of tools released just last year. Do you recognize any of the sites mentioned? Do any of these new sites look useful to you?
It is hard to deny that the world of information service is becoming intertwined with the world of technology. With the new knowledge and skills you have gained from this project, you can continue to do what librarians do best - interpret information. Your understanding of this new technology gives you the power to not just show a website to a patron, but to understand what is on that site, where it is coming from, and help the patron understand the information they are receiving from the page.
According to Troy Swanson, a graduate student at Dominican University Graduate School of Library and Information Science, "They [technologists] are the DJs, we [librarians] are the rappers." Technologists "control the turntables" to create the technological environment (rhythm) in which librarians and other information specialists work. The librarians are the rappers, the ones "that provide content and meaning to the rhythm created by the technologists." (Troy Swanson, American Libraries, March 2000)
In your final official exploration blog, take a moment to reflect on the past 9 (or 12) explorations that you have completed. Feel free to discuss the program itself: what you liked and what could be improved upon. Once you have completed this final exploration, e-mail your blog URL to the head of Staff Development to receive your CEU credits.
Just because you’ve finished your official exploration of Web 2.0 is no reason to shut down your blog or abandon your RSS feeds. There are plenty of other information professionals out there working to keep the rest of us abreast of libraries and emerging technologies. (A simple Google search of “Librarians and Blogs” brings up several interesting lists). Make an effort to read at least one blog on a regular basis in an area that interests you so you can share that new information with your staff and the system. If you enjoyed blogging, create a personal blog and keep track of your…well, your whatever!
Don’t forget that new explorers will be starting this training program later in the year. Come back and read their blogs and take a look at their perspective on Web 2.0. (Remember how encouraging it was to see that first comment posted on your blog post?)
2 comments:
Well, it took me a while, but I finally finished up here. I actuallt have done most of this in my everyday life, so not much of a stretch. Nice to put the exclamation point on the last thing!
this was a very interesting exercise. i'm glad i was forced to stretch and learn things that come intuitively to my younger friends. notice that i have adopted the lack of capital letter style of the younger generation.
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