Week 6, Thing #15 - Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and The Future of Libraries

School Library 2.0
"Say good-bye to your mother’s school library."
By Christopher Harris -- School Library Journal, 5/1/2006
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6330755.html

"Ten reasons why your next pathfinder should be a wiki."
By Joyce Valenza -- School Library Journal, June 20, 2007
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/1620010962.html

"'Library 2.0' [is defined] as 'the application of interactive, collaborative, and multi-media web-based technologies to web-based library services and collections,' and suggests this definition be adopted by the library science community" (Jack M. Maness, 2006, http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html). Maness has a good point that in libraries "any stability other than the acceptance of instability is insufficient" (Ibid.).

Libraries are constantly evolving to meet the needs of their users and staff. This has kept libraries relevant and vibrant. Web 2.0 opens all sorts of new possibilities for libraries, particularly school libraries: wikis, blogging, social bookmarking, RSS feeds, podcasts, streaming media, and mashups. My school library extended its reach beyond its 4 walls years ago with remote access to databases, and Web 2.0 allows the libraries to reach out further with various print and multimedia options. Building online connections and opportunities for collaboration seem critical to keeping the library relevant. Web 2.0 technologies do indeed seem to mark a new generation of library services (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_2.0).