In one of my previous posts I made a comment that the Internet, with its ever-evolving capacity to host vast, unlimited library resources, is like a modern Alexandria Library, the largest Library of the ancient world. But the comparison stops right at this point. Even if one ignores the differences in library materials: from the manuscript to print, from e-book to 3D book, the nature of library presence, interactions, has changed forever. No longer it is necessary to come to the library to borrow, to read, to socialise. The Library of today is everywhere. It comes to the user's home, office, school, cafe, bookgroup meeting...
The revolution created by the emergence of Web 2.0, the new generation of Internet based services such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools and folksonomies, changed the nature of information formats and delivery, opening the door to new information infrastructure, the Library 2.0. As Dr Wendy Schultz observes in her article, "Infinite Futures", Library 2.0 is barrier-free and engaging: "collaborate with Amazon; provide digital downloads of books; create a global, and globally accessible catalogue; invite readers to tag and comment. Yet as more information becomes more accessible, people will still need experienced tour guides - tagclouds offer diverse connections, not focused expertise. This will drive the transition to Library 3.0: the 3D service".
Here comes the concept of Virtual Worlds, SecondLife3, the virtual graphic world. "Digital natives", as Schultz calls them, are spending over forty hours a week online, immersed in this world. The virtual collections in the 3D world will follow, and books "may have avatars and personalities". However such a wealth of materials will create a need of service, of tailoring information to needs. Users will want a "virtual reality information coach", librarian avatar. They will rate them, based on customer satisfaction, they could create the librarian "superstar". They will collect librarians rather than books, because the librarian will prepare the material for them.
There also will be Library 4.0, the neo-library experience. The Library for the "dream society which will need libraries as mind gyms; as idea labs, as art salons". It wont replace Libraries 1.0 through 3.0; it will absorb them. It will be a "knowledge" spa: meditation, relaxation, immersion in a luxury of ideas and thoughts.
Returning to reality, to the Library 2.0... What does it means to me? In the first place, I would not know much about it if not given the chance to participate in Learning 2.0. I was always well aware of the importance of the Internet to a small library, but Learning 2.0 is opening up a new world of possibilities in which my library can utilise this tool. In short: it will greatly help to enhance reference services; outreach programs; marketing; cataloguing; user education evolving around new technologies such as podcast tours of the library, public classes using web 2.0; building online connections between the library communities such as community wikis; encouraging user participation in content creating such as user blogs for writing, reading, bookshelves...
Technology is only a commodity and its value should be assessed in the context of meeting the users needs, of finding the new ways to improve services. However, if technology is useful, it cannot be ignored. The libraries are responsible for keeping up with the technological change to be able to select the best for their customers. There is no other choice - making ourselves familiar with technology is the only choice.
As Rick Anderson comments in his article, "Away from the Icebergs":
"No profession can survive if it throws its core principles and values overboard in response to every shift in the zeitgeist. However, it can be equally disastrous when a profession fails to acknowledge and adapt to radical, fundamental change in the marketplace it serves".
Thanks for Learning 2.0!
