Week 6: Thing 15

Library 2.0 sounds absolutely FANTASTIC! I am giddy with anticipation. It's what I dreamed being a librarian would be like. It's the library that attracts customers for more than just "it's free, and Blockbuster charges almost $5/movie..."

I heard Michael Stephens speak at CLA last year, and he definitely knows his stuff, which is why it pains me to disagree with one of his points. In his "Into a new world of librarianship" article he states "(t)his librarian asks what new technologies or new materials users need." This is Library 1.3. Library 2.0 would include "and providing them with what they need or finding an alternative solution."

For example, Library 1.3 provides customers with an opportunity to "Suggest a Purchase...." and then tells the customer we're not going to bother acknowleding your input or let you know if it's being purchased or not ie "Due to the large number of suggestions we receive, we cannot notify you about our decision regarding your request."

Library 2.0 provides customers with an opportunity to "Suggestion a Purchase for SJPL Collections" and then gets the item (either through purchase or ILL) for the person who requested it, and if the item can't be found/purchased that person is informed. Of course this is impossible, and the Santa Cruz City-County Library System needs to be informed, so they can cease and desist immediately.