Library 2.0 Game Plan

I recently had the opportunity to attend an ACRL webcast titled "Practical Strategies for Building a Library 2.0 Game Plan". It is a topic that has become not only interesting to me, but extremely important to libraries. At the ALA conference in Washington D.C. in June, I attended a session on Library 2.0 as well, and both of these programs covered similar territory. The fact that so many different people working in libraries are promoting the idea of Library 2.0 shows how vital and relevant it is; incorporating Library 2.0 into the work we already do is as necessary as adapting computers was years ago.

Library 2.0 (also known as Web 2.0 or Learning 2.0) is focused on interactivity and building communities. Young people spend a great deal of time online using social networking sites, and libraries can add this to our repertoire of skills and tools to reach out to them. According to the webcast, the first thing libraries should do is to "harness the technologies of collaboration" and be distinctive. Once we understand the technologies by practicing on our own, we can decide which ones to adapt.

There are several web technologies - already embraced by users - that libraries have also successfully incorporated: blogs, wikis, podcasts, social networking such as MySpace and Facebook, YouTube, and social bookmarking such as del.icio.us and flickr. In fact, one social networking site called Second Life has a library group that is working on solutions in an "innovation lab" to learn how students use new web tools.

We webcast offered some guidelines for getting started, though Lane Library has been adapting several of these tools already. It is recommended that you look at your user community, that you review your web site and incorporate new tools there, and assess your physical space. In fact, the idea of a Library Commons makes physical space planning a hot topic in academia. One issue that was stressed is not to get rid of the "killer apps" that libraries have invented and used successfully for years, such as reference, outreach, collection development, organization, and planning. Both this webcast and the program at ALA stressed that librarians, who tend to be introverted, should strive to be more extroverted and promote their services. Putting photos of library workers on the library's website puts a familiar face out there for patrons to feel connected to.

The other advantage of new web-based technologies is you can get started cheaply and easily. For libraries with no local support, it is a way to get around red tape. These applications don't have to be run on a campus server, so set up can be speedy and, "driven by solo, enterprising staff". Not only is incorporating these new technologies a way to increase service points for users, but it can make some things fun and exciting for everyone.