Thing 2: Learning about Learning 2.0

Well, I listened to/mostly read all four items in step Thing 2. Some of it is sort of old news...IM, for example. There is no reason at all that every library isn't doing IM for reference, except for those who are afraid. Certain precautions can be put in place, such as response time expectations, and restrictions on the depth of questions, hours of operation, etc. I have been a proponent of that type of reference for a long time.

I have been in at least one, maybe two sessions on Web 2.0 already, and I am overwhelmed by the terminology on a lot of the other stuff and why I would need it. Don't know what a ning is and don't know if I want to know (but I guess I'm going to find out when I get there). I understand what flickr is, but hesitate to put my personal photos out there for anyone to find. On the other hand, I can see library program photos out there for everyone to enjoy. I do understand it all has to do with communicating continuously and in every possible way, and that is what libraries need to be doing so that we don't lose everyone to their home computer.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that that will really happen. I am not inclined to think that there will not always be books, or that there will not always be people who need someone to guide them to information. Especially in a community like ours, there are many people (including librarians) who just aren't into it. On the other hand, more and more are, across the age spectrum and certainly the younger, youngest and future library users.

All of that said, I think it is important for librarians to be as savvy about these things as possible. It is, of course, always nice to know what someone is talking about...a good reason to do this exercise in and of itself. The world has also become a 24/7 world and these tools enable libraries to be 24/7 institutions also along with e-reference books, downloadable audio, and databases.