Blogpost # 1 Library 2.0
As I question the significance of Library 2.0 and its affect on serving young adults in libraries, I remember Open Content Alliance, Chet Grycz during A Conversation with the Follett Chair: Ed Valauskas, making a profound comment on librarian’s involvement on the web. I believe these are his exact words.
“We need to immerse ourselves into the digital environment; if we are absent we are totally irrelevant altogether.”
I can’t help but wonder why more libraries have yet to take advantage of Web 2.0 and communicate with teens in their library district. Creating a sense of community through MySpace, Flickr, YouTube and Blogs on a library website can transfer that same community into the physical library. If a library meets the needs of the community, in this case a young adult community, by accommodating their needs, broadening their range of information and adding value to their content, then the library can become a place, a physical place and a virtual place to share, learn, and engage in-group discussions, both on and off the web.
Teens participating in teen advisory boards, focus groups, and library board meetings seems to work for some libraries according to article, “Web, Library, and Teen Services 2.0” by Kimberly Bolan, Meg Canada, and Rob Cullin, although “radical trust” is required in order to allow young adults to “shape and create the library.” Many libraries are now recognizing gaming, vodcasting, and podcasting as a “literacy activity.” ALA also addresses this topic in a press release, “Libraries go where teens are: Online,” and announces that YALSA will be leading a session on this topic at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a reality for many libraries; my village library doesn’t even have a good space for teens much less an appealing website. One Library that is embracing Library 2.0 is the ImaginOn - The Loft at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg Country in North Carolina. There teens have also made a commercial about their library on You Tube, another great example of teen participation. Just a few more activities off their Teen Loft Page.
Teen Second Life: Get One
Take Photos for Your Webpage
Be Smart Wired
Video Gaming Club
Make MySpace Photos Come to Life Google Page
CreatorDance Dance Revolution Tournament (ok, this isn’t web 2.0, is it? It stills seems like a great idea.)
I love great quotes, so here is one more by David Penniman of the University of Buffalo, NY, “In order for the library to remain what it is, it must change. If it doesn’t change it will not remain what it is.” What do you think?
4 comments:
Hi, I liked your post. I think libraries need to utilize Web 2.0 more. Especially the Chicago PUblic library's teen section. It is a very bland and boring site. Good sites for teens keep in mind color, type, fun writing styles, and links to myspace, flickr, etc...Libraries need to get with the future if they want to attract teens. Poetry blogs and readings at the library. Stuff teens would enjoy. Love the library in Charlotte's teen site. But I think their choice fo shape and color could be spruced.
Yes, I can appreciate what Penniman has observed. Libraries must change. How long ago did Ranganathan tell us in his Laws of Library Science that, "The library is a growing organism"?
I agree and am trying to learn as much as possible to be able to keep up with technology. It grows at such a fast pace. We need to reach the young adults as quickly as possible. I like quotes too, and change is inevitable and hopefully it is for the better.
Wow..nice stuff. Gorman also said that our mission will stay the same but the tasks and tools may change.
Nice comments too. I don't even remember seeing the CPL teen section. Is there one downtown?
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