Web 2.O: To more powerful ways to cooperate

In entertaining thoughts on the value of Web 2.o, I remain cautiously optimistic. Michael Stevens remarks in his article Into a New World of Librarianship that "techno-worship does not exist here." He stresses the importance of technology having functional use and customer service value. This is one of my mantra's regarding public libraries. Technology needs to add value and content to the patron's library experience not create chaos and frustration.

Many of our library specific databases have different interfaces requiring knowledge acquisition with each database's use. Webfeat is supposed to simplify this search process but technology is only as relevant as the information that is found. Federated searching is the way of the future but it is still a work in progress. OCLC's WorldCat is a good example of the effective application of Web 2.0 technology.

So if you haven't looked at their new interface, check it out! http://www.worldcat.org

Michael Stevens mentions that the Librarian 2.0 "never stops dreaming about the best library services." Now we just need to adjust our "structure is best" library mindsets to an open source, constantly moving target of Library 2.o services.