Thing 16 - Library 2.0

Library 2.0 - It is and will continue to be unending, I think. It is sometimes overwhelming, especially for those of us in small towns with very, very limited budgets. And yes, I no longer buy three sets of encyclopedias or lots of other references, but technology ain't cheap either and the knowledge that you need to purchase, operate and teach is not either.

I am always in favor of technology and trying new things and will continue to be, but I do worry about the older generation. Granted there are many like me, who are more than willing to give almost any form of technology a try, but I know more that don't want to for many different reasons. There are also many younger people, young adults and children who do not have the money for the products. What about them? The library or school will be the only place they will have access to these products. And that will be even more true now than it has been.

Now on the brighter side. I do feel that libraries will continue to lead the way. I do know that we have. When we got a computer in the library, we were the first "business" in town, except for the bank, the school and the hardware store to have a computer.

Downloading books to an MP3 player, ordering a book or an article through ILL while the patron is standing there or just finding information for someone who is computer illiterate continues to awe some people and they spread the word. And the fact that we can give them a great deal more information than they can find in an encyclopedia or a book makes them so happy.

There are so many ways all the technology can be used and we have learned so many of these during this class. I will not be using them for the library, of course, as I will be leaving. But I am glad I know about them and I will be using them in my private life and maybe I will be using them at the places where I will be volunteering....who knows.

In some ways all this makes life easier and in others more difficult, but I'm glas we have it. It certainly made being a librarian a lot more fun. Especially cataloging. I really did not like typing catalog cards.