“A Dozen Ways to Two-Step, Essential Web 2.0 Training for Texas Librarians” is a work program I am participating in. This blog is one of the results. Of all the introductory material, my favorite was the YouTube The Machine is Us/ing Us (Final Version) by Michael Wesch, showing vividly how the information world is undergoing a radical shift.
What does this mean for my library? It means our primary users, college students, view technology in ways we never did. Instead of just books and magazines and visual aids of the past, the library is a wired, humming archive of activity. Online, students can read articles, search the catalog, instant message a question to a librarian, borrow books from other libraries--all from the comfort of their laptop!
It also means circulation of old-fashioned books is down, purchase of traditional books is down, and things will not be the same. Indeed, the livelihood of library staff could be threatened. This was clear in our meeting last week when our supervisor showed us graphs marking this downward swing. As a bookkeeper who pays for all library materials, I have seen annual increases in online products and services but had not marked the slump in book purchases.
There were two article and two videos in the introductory material. Not surprisingly, I related more to the visual presentations. This is a departure since most of my life I was an avid reader and writer. But becoming an artist several years ago has changed the way I see.
Just as I have changed, so too are libraries. Physically, they are responding to the need for more computers, for wireless connections, for food and drink purchases, for study groups rooms, for more comfortable seating, for the most up-to-date software and services. When I began working at my library, 16 years ago, a few librarians were openly hostile to evolving new technology. As new devices and web tools leap ahead so fast, it may be hard for older workers to understand much less catch up with. But, as these articles and videos prove, we need to embrace the change. Otherwise, we might get left behind.
I appreciate your comments! I encourage you to keep learning and growing in your use of technology! I think, however, that anyone, regardless of age, can understand and excel in using technology if they have the desire!
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