Week 6: #15 "On Library 2.0 and Web 2.0"

I looked at all five of the perspectives listed in the discovery exercise. It is clear that we now must bring the library to the user. It used to be that anyone who wanted information had to go along with the local library hours and work only with the library in-house materials. That was very limiting from what books children could read, what information was avaiable for a school project, and what an adult could read or find about a specific subject. Now information is available 24/7 for anyone who has access to a computer. Many people don't use the library at all they just "Google it..." and there's their answer. Libraries have changed with the times...there will always be the patron who wants the personal touch (No self-check for me or Where is the card catalog?) but many are looking to the library as the place to gain access to information and we need to be ready to help them find what they are looking for...and we have the ways and means to do it. It is important that we have the technology to assist our patrons with their requests but we also need to know how to use the technology. But there are a few of question we must ask ourselves...what do we do if the electricity goes out or if "the internet is down"? and what about the customer who would dare ask "Can you suggest a BOOK I could take on my vacation to the beach?"