The opportunity to blog, the very fact that I am being more intentional about my professional reading and processing the information so that I can eventually reflect in this format, is going to be very valuable to my growth as a librarian. While I will not be so vain as to entertain the idea that someone may actually be interested in my thoughts, I do assert that it will improve my ability to provide service; people do care about that.
Now, onto the actual reflection. While reading "Reinventing the OPAC" I bumped into an ACRL article, "Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries," that says it better than I could:Library staffs in general must become more agile, more highly attuned to, and more aggressive in proclaiming just how different the world of knowledge has already become.
I find it very exciting to be in this profession right now because there is so much change. It is exciting, and stretching, to realize that I have to stay current because current is constantly changing. The intentionality this brings to my work can at times be intimidating, but it is opportunities like 23 Things on a Stick that provide a chance to mindfully further my understanding of the opportunities available to help me provide better service to the students, faculty, and staff I serve.
If I acknowledge that the world of information is changing I am also acknowledging the fact that the students with whom I work may very well approach the research process in a way foreign to me. That said, I should expose myself to the tools they are using all the while thinking about ways they may be integrated into the searching process. It doesn't sound feasible to me at first blush, but could an image in Flickr jump start an answer to a reference query? I'll never know unless I try the product and stay open to the possibilities!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thing Two
The concept of Library 2.0 and its application to my profession is a lot to think about.
First, I want to say again how much I value the opportunity to play with these tools. I agree with Stephen Abram when he says that we must spend time with these applications because we are "experienced based" learners. I know all the readings in the world cannot take the place of my experiencing these tools while thinking about their real life applications.
That said, I must admit that Rick Anderson's comment in "Web 2.0: Where will the next generation Web take libraries?" a bit intimidating. His supposition that users want everything is most definitely believable. I cannot, however, figure how I might be able to help provide such an all encompassing service at an acceptable level. All things to all people in all formats using the tools currently available seems like a tall order to me. Worth striving for, I am sure, but attainable, I am not convinced.
Even though intimidated by the call, I am excited about the variety of ways I can now make information available to our users. More avenues for discovery increases chances the information will be discovered, if we as librarians must be very clear and very intentional as we and our patrons create "virtual trails" or maps to the most needed, much wanted resources. Great applications if used thoughtfully and intentionally. As with most tools, the values lies in a person's ability to use it.
Last, I was reminded of the success we as a library have already had using some of the Web 2.0 tools available. By taking to heart Rick Anderson's advice and "placing library services and content in the user’s preferred environment (i.e., the Web)" we have seen an increase in attendance to our library's discussions and social events. Advertising on Facebook yields far greater results than any poster ever could.
All said, my big "take home" message is the importance of constant re-evaluation. In such a volatile information landscape I must 1. continually ask myself what the library is and 2. stay abreast of the technological advances that can and will help me fulfill the library's purpose.
First, I want to say again how much I value the opportunity to play with these tools. I agree with Stephen Abram when he says that we must spend time with these applications because we are "experienced based" learners. I know all the readings in the world cannot take the place of my experiencing these tools while thinking about their real life applications.
That said, I must admit that Rick Anderson's comment in "Web 2.0: Where will the next generation Web take libraries?" a bit intimidating. His supposition that users want everything is most definitely believable. I cannot, however, figure how I might be able to help provide such an all encompassing service at an acceptable level. All things to all people in all formats using the tools currently available seems like a tall order to me. Worth striving for, I am sure, but attainable, I am not convinced.
Even though intimidated by the call, I am excited about the variety of ways I can now make information available to our users. More avenues for discovery increases chances the information will be discovered, if we as librarians must be very clear and very intentional as we and our patrons create "virtual trails" or maps to the most needed, much wanted resources. Great applications if used thoughtfully and intentionally. As with most tools, the values lies in a person's ability to use it.
Last, I was reminded of the success we as a library have already had using some of the Web 2.0 tools available. By taking to heart Rick Anderson's advice and "placing library services and content in the user’s preferred environment (i.e., the Web)" we have seen an increase in attendance to our library's discussions and social events. Advertising on Facebook yields far greater results than any poster ever could.
All said, my big "take home" message is the importance of constant re-evaluation. In such a volatile information landscape I must 1. continually ask myself what the library is and 2. stay abreast of the technological advances that can and will help me fulfill the library's purpose.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thing One
The blog is constructed, my avatar created, and I am ready to begin. This will be a helpful set of exercises for me not because I feel I am unfamiliar with these tools but because I will now be forced to use them while keeping in mind my profession and trying to apply them to the library world. I am looking forward to discovering some new applications and having some fun in the process.
First things
An explanation of my purpose is as good a place as any to start this blogging adventure. This site is an opportunity for me to reflect on and share my thoughts about a variety of web based tools and how they might help me in my job as an academic librarian. Let the learning begin!
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