Thing 15

My thoughts on Library 2.0.

The age of online information gathering is upon us. The recycling plants must be overloaded with piles of obsolete reference books. Not all information online is the same quality, and it has always been a librarian's job to help patrons recognize good places to gather information, virtually and otherwise.

The idea of "icebergs" referenced here by Rick Anderson talks about the mentality of the "just in case collection". My husband helped me realize I had a touch of that mentality when I mentioned someone's complaint about the drastically shrinking reference section. He said "yeah, but they can probably just find all that information online". That "just in case" section does have a purpose - catering mainly for those patrons who may be intimidated by or just plain out refuse to evolve into the digital age. This blog makes a good argument.

Another "iceberg" he referenced is "the come to us" mentality. There are some patrons that really should be coming to us, and not vice-versa - mainly children. They probably fit more into the idea of Library 4.0 referenced here by Wendy Schultz. You could have an online story time in Second Life, or download an audio book, or video of someone reading you a story, and the information stays essentially the same. But there is something to the experience of holding a book in your hand, sharing a learning experience with a loved one that is impossible to replicate virtually.

My dad always made me look up spellings and especially definitions in the dictionary...dragging out the unabridged monster, slipping through the alphabetical pages. How strange it will be for me when I ask my daughter to look something up and all she has to do is type the word and press enter. But that is the beauty of her generation. She will have everything faster, and with that will come additional pressure, as every moment of time will become more powerful.

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