Week#6 Thing#15

Library 2.0 - the future of libraries. We have had much discussion on this exact topic in my district. How do we change to keep the library a viable resource for our students and staff? The traditional mode will not continue to work - and I found the three iceburgs that we need to avoid to be very aptly described. "Just in case, reliance on user education and (especially) come to us model" to be exactly what most school libraries would still look like. We are however, trying hard in a time of record budget cuts, to move forward. That's what this whole project is about - trying to predict which trends are "keepers" and which will fade away in a very short time, to be replaced by the new best thing. How do we allocate those precious few resources to best serve or school community, to provide the best resources where they need them most- and that isn't sitting in the library which now may have reduced hours of operation. It's from home, or a friend's house where they are collaborating together on their group project. It's making the library available to them 24/7. It's assuming a completely different role as a librarian. One who welcomes the chaos of change and reorganization. That's what I see as the future of libraries and librarians - someone who can help tame and harness the energy of that chaos and make valuable meaning out of the unlimited web resources. I think I'm up for it!