Thing #15

Web 2.0 has been a buzz-word for quite some time now, and now this concept has spread into the library. Thus emerged Library 2.0. The concept itself is simply to provide library services to users in the formats they can use and to bring it to them outside the walls of the library. No longer is the library situated squarely inside the four walls of the building in which it physically sits, but it can now expand and bring in new users and help users in ways not previously available. This means the school library can now offer sources to students at home, connect students to other students across the globe, and encourage learning in new and exciting ways. It also means the librarian now has the responsibility to ensure students are information literate. With these new technologies comes the responsibility to educate students on the appropriate and ethical use of these services and products. The librarian's job is not diminished as some people fear or becoming obsolete, but rather evolving. The librarian now has a much more relevant and time-imperative job than ever before thanks to Web 2.0 tools. While this new world is a bit intimidating because it is ever-changing, ever-evolving, it is our responsibility to tackle it and show students what is available to them.