Shirley Garcia
Student ID #: 11468539
Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals
Lyn Hay—Fall 2010
Several good points were brought up during this conference. First comes the understanding that access to information has and continues to develop. This initially was considered web 1.0. Gone are the days in which every reference question needed to be answered within the physical library. While not all information is valid, access is easy with search engines like Google. This, as the video points out, is driving libraries to be competitive. They need to stay on the cutting edge of technology and its use, which is not static. Web 2.0 allows the consumer to become the creator, which is engaging more and more users. In order for libraries to stay relevant, they must integrate these tools in an effective manner. This begins with knowing the user. The patrons of any given library are diverse within their specific needs. What engages one age group or the patrons of one specific library will not engage all. The technology needs vary greatly.
Knowing these needs is paramount to planning what technologies should be integrated into libraries. Individuals who specialize in these various technologies and library staff need to work together to plan what programs and tools will best serve their population. This partnership can be mutually beneficial and can bring out the most positive aspects and skills of both professions. Further, this partnership is key in insuring that the patrons are served in a secure manner (including protecting patron privacy) without undue worry over the use of technology as a learning tool. While a large grey area exists, as the video explains, attempts at clarifying parameters of the use of these tools will go a long way toward ensuring that the patrons are being served in the most effective manner possible. This will enable libraries of all kinds to stay relevant regardless of what technologies may evolve and develop from web 2.0.
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