Michael Stephens of Tame the Web is a blogger whose writing and insight I admire tremendously. He's a tech librarian's tech librarian. His November 25 post, Suggestions for Upgrading to Library 2.0 (or Some Easy Steps to Get Started...Really) had me cheering all the way through until the end, when I finally reflected on the situation in most libraries, and wept quietly into my hands. There have been a lot of Library 2.0 posts lately, but it was Michael's specific suggestions that prompted me to step in with my in-the-trenches perspective.
There isn't a thing wrong with Michael's suggestions, provided that you are person who can affect such change, or work in a wonderfully collaborative environment. We all know about the socioeconomic digital divide, but there's an in-house version of the divide. Most of us need not look any further than our own work places to find it. It's a cleft kept wedged apart by territoriality, fear, ignorance, and resistance to change. Maybe a more accurate model would be one of those Antarctic ice shelves that used to be a cohesive, identifiable land mass, but breaks up into various, drifting chunks (a penguin here, a penguin there...how will they ever connect again? If only the penguins had IM!) I'm going to go through Michael's points and explain why his vision is very Pie-in-the-Sky for many of us. That said, I'm thankful to Michael and all the other Pie-in-the-Skyers. It gives the rest of us hope and something to strive for.
Bring together some of your newer librarians with the seasoned staff who are interested and create a Think Tank, R&D department, or the inspirational Emerging Technology Committee to look at all these new tools.
This is a wonderful idea. I'm on the Web Team where I work, and grateful to be a part of it, even when eyes glaze over when the talk veers away from Library 1.0 issues. I think this sort of collaboration will become more prevalent as we see more new tech-savvy grads enter the workplace, and as libraries figure out that they need to look at outdated staffing models. I have been invited to attend a forum on library science education at Midwinter. I was wondering what I could contribute, but it's becoming clearer to me now. (Go ahead....don't wait for an invite. Just sign up!)
If you haven't already, train as soon as possible on Bloglines or the RSS aggregator of your choice to empower staff to keep up with the biblioblogosphere, LIS news and the news in general.
Blog? What's a blog? I wonder how many library workers would see this as "playing on the Internet" and not understand that professional development doesn't have to take place while seated in a hard chair, taking notes on a PowerPoint presentation? As a funny/sad ironic aside, I was checking my Bloglines account at work last week, and Tame the Web was blocked by our library's blocking software under the category "Personal Web Pages." That Michael Stephens is a dangerous guy!
Encourage staff to use the tools as well.
Where I work, blogs, Flickr, other "tools" are solely mostly the purview of the IT department (see comment below for YA success!). I'd love to be able to share what I know and why I think it'd be useful with my colleagues.
Finally, think seriously about IM as well.
Security issues. Generally not available on public or staff computers. No virtual ref, save for email from those who discover this service by poking around on the website. (But, I have tipped off ref desk staff to Meebo.com, for when they encounter teeth-gnashing patrons who are unable to log on to AIM or Yahoo!) A good work-around!
If I sound frustrated, I guess I'm a bit of a Veruca Salt about what I want to do in my daily work. As much as I love learning about Library and Web 2.0 and finding ways to make technology work for patrons and colleagues, I'm not sure that many (most) libraries are ready to take even the baby steps suggested by Michael. I'm sure you'll let me know if I'm mistaken (and I hope that I am).
Boy, am I late to the Library 2.0 party.
Thank you for your very thoughtful post. I have two cents (more like 1.5 cents) that tie in somewhat with your post and I hope you don't mind if I give them vent here.
I've seen the in-house divide, albeit in a rather rarefied milieu (a large, prestigious academic library). And as someone who had a front-row seat to a conference for library support staff issues, I think I've seen where some of the fear and resistance comes from:
1) will embracing Library 2.0 help staff (public and technical) do their jobs better/easier or is it more training and additional tasks tomorrow that eat into the time needed to complete today's job?
2) will these concepts and their implementation be designed and developed on a collaborative basis between staff and administration (and within staff, between librarian and librarian specialists/assts./associates), or is the perception (let alone the reality) is that such changes are introduced/implemented in a top-down matter, or more explicitly, the degreed librarians giving orders to non-degreed staffers?
This isn't to say that the in-house divide you discuss isn't also motivated by fear of change, technophobia, office politics, etc. But I think that the two questions above, and how they would be answered in a given library, may well affect how any change or new idea is managed, let alone Library 2.0 concepts.
Apologies for the rambling ...
Posted by: Eli | 2006.01.03 at 12:20 AM
Boy, am I late to the Library 2.0 party.
Thank you for your very thoughtful post. I have two cents (more like 1.5 cents) that tie in somewhat with your post and I hope you don't mind if I give them vent here.
I've seen the in-house divide, albeit in a rather rarefied milieu (a large, prestigious academic library). And as someone who had a front-row seat to a conference for library support staff issues, I think I've seen where some of the fear and resistance comes from:
1) will embracing Library 2.0 help staff (public and technical) do their jobs better/easier or is it more training and additional tasks tomorrow that eat into the time needed to complete today's job?
2) will these concepts and their implementation be designed and developed on a collaborative basis between staff and administration (and within staff, between librarian and librarian specialists/assts./associates), or is the perception (let alone the reality) is that such changes are introduced/implemented in a top-down matter, or more explicitly, the degreed librarians giving orders to non-degreed staffers?
This isn't to say that the in-house divide you discuss isn't also motivated by fear of change, technophobia, office politics, etc. But I think that the two questions above, and how they would be answered in a given library, may well affect how any change or new idea is managed, let alone Library 2.0 concepts.
Apologies for the rambling ...
Posted by: Eli | 2006.01.03 at 12:16 AM
I think all the Library 2.0 stuff is very exciting, but I think if a library can do 1 or 2 of these things, they are doing well in this era of budget cuts and staff shortages.
Matt and Rochelle, I think you both need an outsider perspective. I am continually amazed by all of the innovative and outstanding activities and programs happening at your library. The IT and YA game fests, movie activities, and web site are among the most very outstanding in the country! BPL is second to none or maybe one in terms of activities, website, and programs for teens. I would also like to compliment you on the PrimeTime computer club for seniors. That does involve and require resources from the entire library.
I just noticed the new blog on library events and the new building. Excellent!
In a time when many libraries just are not doing adult programming because people are not coming, BPL has a wealth and variety of programs for people of all ages. Personally, I don't know how you could do much more.
Hopefully an outsider's perspective will make you realize that you are bringing Library 2.0 to Bloomington and central Illinois and doing a darn good job of it.
Posted by: Lori Bell | 2005.12.01 at 04:51 PM
This seems to be such an easy thing to do, but it is also such a difficult position/proposition to pull off. Because it involves colleagues, territory, politics, management, etc. I wish it where different (i.e., equitably Web/Library 2.0 or whatever), and I think it is working, accessible and equitable in certain circumstances such as our YA Librarian has pointed out. But keep in mind that library technology is about more than just this environment (i.e., the web world with chat/IM, flickr, blogs ...). I know that it is hard to believe, but yes, sometimes we try to make human contact with people (i.e., face to face) through instruction, service, innovative technology oriented programming, etc.
As I mentioned above, it is so about people, territory, internal and external politics, management, etc, etc. I know that it sounds like the same old song, but once you live the reality of it all you learn the tune. I try to tune out noise and get on the right melody, but there is always those occasions when the traditional noise breaks its way through.
All I ask for as an IT Manager/Librarian that is trying to maintain a sustainable and equitable service to their public is patience, trust and support. Lay off, let us do our work and help us. Please!
--the IT dept mgr.
Posted by: Matt | 2005.12.01 at 12:23 AM
Your successes as a YA librarian are laudible, and maybe Library 2.0 is something that needs to start with younger users. I hope you understand the frustration from where I sit (as I applaud the work that you and the IT dept have done!).
Posted by: rochelle | 2005.11.26 at 08:55 PM
While I agree with the idea that the 'in-house version of the divide' is a complex issue, I do not agree that where you work, "blogs, Flickr, other "tools" are solely the purview of the IT department." As the Young Adult Librarian, I have recently worked on a project with IT to create enhanced podcasts of a class of junior high students reviewing books, movies, and music. I don't know of any other library using the enhanced podcasts for this. Podcasts of reviews? Yes, of course.
Michael Stephens also mentioned in his post to attend the Gaming Symposium conference in Chicago next month. I happen to be a speaker on that panel along with a member of the IT department.
Yeah, we've got a long way to go but I think we're doing some great things and it's not so 'Pie-in-the-Skye'impossible.
Posted by: Kelly | 2005.11.26 at 07:31 PM