Wk 6, #15 Library 2.0

The library will change, it must be able to keep up with the technological world. However, in all these essays on services and librarianship, about "harnessing collective intelligence," and "lightweight programming models, not much was really said about people. We do need to simplify our catalogs and our databases, making them easier to use. There are many other search engines on the net that are easier to use then a libaray catalog. I have found, through some years of working in libraries, that many of our patrons want what they want, get it and leave. Whether its the latest John Grisham, or information for a child's report on bread mold. They need to be able to do this, either with our help, or a computer, quickly and efficiently. Do they really care how much metadata they can access, or the model being used? I personally don't think so.

I had to agree with much of the essay labeled "icebergs," stating that the library world must be careful in its desire and push to go completely hi-tech, because you forget about the people you are trying to help. If they dont know how to use these resources, and there isnt the staff to teach them, whats the point? I also agree with the idea of cutting back on huge print collections, many reference tools are now online, do we need all these large, dusty tomes? And do we really need 10 copies in one library of a Danielle Steele book? Libraries are now "community centers," loud, bustling, often filled with screaming children and cell phone talkers with the constant clackity-clack of keyboards in the background. This, in terms of clientle, is what libraries have become. More computers would help serve the millions of people who still don't have computers in their homes. More time and staff to teach computer classes on how to use one, let alone how to create a blog or make avatars.

The technology will and must come, but whether it actually helps patron's library experience remains to be seen. The libraries themselves may have access to this massive amount of information, but can it be accessed by our patrons?