Thing 15: Library 2.0 and Web 2.0

The first article, "Away From The 'Icebergs,'" is the most concise piece on the changes and challenges facing this profession that I have read. The section on the "just in case" collections makes me wonder how the libraries of the next few years will physically look. It stands to reason that the ratio of print materials to computer terminals used in libraries will continue to shrink drastically, but as the author implies in the "come to us" section, sustaining a web presence and web tools promise to take priority over amassing tangible collections. His point on avoiding a reliance on patron education struck me the most. If my experiences assisting patrons with technology issues have taught me anything, it is that which may seem intuitive to one person seems impassable to another. Eliminating the user barriers created by new technologies should continue to be a top priority for library systems, especially for older patrons.

As I understand it, and as it is articulated in these articles (especially "Into A New World Of Librarianship"), Library 2.0 is fundamentally about forging library systems that are more adaptive, responsive, interactive, and proactive than traditional library institutions. Library 2.0 is also about striking the right balance; libraries should not implement new technologies just for the sake of doing, just as they should avoid a sense of rigidity. Like Web 2.0, Library 2.0 seems to value the inherent benefits of collaborative effort, most of all education, creativity, and community growth.