While I do not consider myself very “forward-looking” (I’m fairly well-grounded in the present), this particular exercise certainly allows one plenty of grist for the proverbial “mull.” And, as I mull this one over, I really agree that we (libraries and librarians) need to do a better job of connecting with the users and more specifically, the users’ needs. But at the same time, many users won’t be web 2.0 “literate” (for lack of a better term) or at varying levels of acceptance and use. So in this regard, we must remain flexible and adaptable and be able to deliver services to multiple user demographics in a multitude of forms/formats while at the same time keeping up with the speed of the technological change. Whew! Then if you throw in the budgetary issues that go hand in hand with this change . . . how many libraries can afford to keep up? Are we destined to remain “behind the curve?” Some of us, perhaps; but there will always be the visionary pioneers — the first “to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
(Image from Wikipedia.)
[Insert the Theme from Star Trek here -- once I've had the "lesson" I'll come back and insert the theme.]
As I gaze into my crystal ball, I really don’t see the books and shelves ever going away completely (at least not in my lifetime), but as more and more materials become available electronically and accessible from a variety of platforms (e.g., computers, the internet, cell phones, etc.), the size of physical collections will dwindle. Library spaces may become more social and less research-oriented (because the research can be done from anywhere); reference may become more virtual as opposed to “in-person.” Will libraries really allow more collaboration from their users? Are we ready to give up our bibliographical control? Will our job descriptions morph as we become more “moderators” of contributed content versus actual suppliers/selectors? Will simply moderating contributions be enough to maintain the quality, authority, reliability, and credibility of our products and services? Stay tuned, time will tell.
We are already using Meebo, blogs and wikis here and will continue to evaluate the existing and new technologies. Not bad for starters, but we’ve got a long way to go to fully embrace Web/Library 2.0; we’ve only just started the journey. The truly nimble libraries of the 21st Century will continue to look for ways to incorporate these and other developing technologies into their existing products and services — I’m hopeful that we are among the nimble, but the speed (and price) of can change sometimes gets in the way.
“Live long and prosper.”
Tags: future, Library 2.0, Web 2.0
