Thing 2 (NEFLIN, not Dr. Seuss!)

Library 2.0, I think, is representative of the evolution of libraries and of changes in our society. It's hard to imagine, but think back 20 years ago when there was no Internet to speak of! What is now so commonplace was, at one time, completely unheard of. The emerging technologies today will, in the future, be just as commonplace.

Lisa Calvert, a respected colleague of mine, really summed it when she said that libraries have to continue to evolve to be relevant to their users, or as she said "we need to be significant to our patrons’ everyday lives. We just need to be MORE to more people." Yet, like Lisa also wrote, there is something wonderful about being in a place of books that is cozy and invites EVERYONE to be a part, as old-fashioned as that may sound, much like hand-writing a letter or a thank-you note instead of e-mailing...it just feels more personal. While I want our libraries to be relevant and useful and modern, at the same time, I hate to think of a future with no books in the library or a future that is completely electronic with little face-to-face time with our patrons. The book and people lover in me, I suppose!

For me, Library 2.0, with regard to the patrons, is as straightforward as not only keeping up with the evolution of communication and how it relates to libraries, but also remembering that each patron will accept and adapt to that evolution at different speeds and in unique ways. The key, to me, is making sure, as we strive to do everyday, to make the experience a successful transition by always keeping the individual's style and needs in mind. What may be an exciting and simple technology to one, may be considered dreadful and complicated by another. By keeping each user in mind, we, as librarians, can help them utilize these new technologies, at his or her own speed and comfort thus keeping the personal touch in tact.

Lisa...I hope you didn't mind my referring to or quoting you! :)

P.S.--One thing I love about this blog is that it gives me time to reflect and edit as new ideas come to me! In looking back on my post, I took the perspective of our (not always) older patrons who want to keep up with the technology, but can be intimidated by it or intimidated by the fact that libraries don't look like what they remember or have in their minds that they should be. In that regard, I think I answered that with saying we must meet our patrons where they are, not where we think they should be, in our effort to help them adjust to what may be second-nature to us.

From a different direction, back in graduate school (2001-2003), I was saying that there are ideas that the bookstores have that we should "steal" and use ourselves, such as making libraries cozy places that encourage users to want to stay a while and do not feel dated, stuffy, or uninviting. And not being afraid of embracing new ideas and things simply because they haven't been done before. Several teen spaces (I'm thinking of a library in Arizona at the moment) have really taken off with this idea and truly made their spaces THE place to be for teens. Within our own buildings and budgets, I think this is possible in any area of our libraries as long as we keep OUR minds open.

"23 Things" is an opportunity indeed!