A Library 2.0 we go ....

When reading these perspectives on Library 2.0 I felt a bit like I was back at school being forced into something I wasn't particularly interested in. I've hated many a book in the past for just this reason. I did, however, read with interest Rick Anderson's view on libraries and the future and how he saw less and less emphasis on our written, physical collection due to greater demand and ease of use and access to digital resources. His comment that libraries have stock-piled collections for "just in case" needs, which were always changing, could be reversed, however, in terms of the sheer labour, time and money involved in creating digital collections. Yes, when done once, they'll never need to be done again, but we need to remember that technology is ever changing and by relying too much on digital resources we run the risk of losing it all if something catastrophic were to occur to our access to these.

The next perspective was from Michael Stephens whose ideas about the librarian meeting the patron at their choice of location (meaning through online chat etc. rather than face to face) could work very well in most environments and in fact Manukau Libraries has something along these lines with their involvement in Any Questions. I do worry about his desire to see the librarians of the future actively involved in the creation of technology ... I'm not I'd want to do an IT degree too! I'm sure learning institutions would inevitably move with these advancements though.

Dr Wendy Schultz seemed to have a view that, whatever form the library would take, it would always need tour guides who have the knowledge and experience to guide users to the information they require. It's all just packaging at the end of the day. I loved her idea of Library 3D where we had a virtual presence in places like Second Life ... can you imagine your local librarian as an avatar with wings and pointy teeth? Anything is possible. Dr Schultz takes everything full circle, however, with Library 4.0. Suddenly we're back where we started with bricks and mortar, physical texts, quiet spaces, and friendly people. There's still something to be said for tradition.