Don’t fear technology! (Blog Post #2)
September 16, 2008 by Site Admin
The internet was initially created so that people could share files with each other. It would not have spread as quickly as it did if people had to pay for it.
What I like about the internet is collaboration. Web sites are created to share information, and we can search freely and quickly.
This sense of collaboration fits libraries. Any library’s goal is to help its community whether it is an academic, public, school, or special library. Libraries can use the internet and its tools to their advantage.
My library (a public library) just had a Staff Institute Day. We closed the library to the public for a day, and our staff spent time learning about Web 2.0 technologies. There were people on our staff that were not familiar with some of the tools (such as blogging, wikis, and social networking sites), and others who are very comfortable with them. What I liked was that we all got to learn together, and we have been challenged to think creatively about how we can use the tools to help serve our patrons better.
I see this as a real opportunity to grow and change. I can see things we can do to interact more with our community. I hope and believe our patrons will be excited to really be a part of their library.
[...] Don’t fear technology! (Blog Post #2)Libraries can use the internet and its tools to their advantage. My library (a public library) just had a Staff Institute Day. We closed the library to the public for a day, and our staff spent time learning about Web 2.0 technologies. … [...]
You really tapped into what I’ve been thinking as well: the advent of the Net and now the Social Web has really changed the way libraries can interact with users and vice versa. Nice post!
Thanks for this information. It clarifies that I will be using this technology and these skills acquired in the public library upon graduation.
That’s wonderful that your library directors made Web 2.0 such a priority as to close for a day in order to educate the staff on today’s latest tools for communication and information. It should be exciting to see how these tools will expand your community outside the physical walls of the library via the internet and attract more users or more frequent users in a new way. We really our entering this field at a time of e-volution in the ways we interact with community.
I think it is a great idea to train staff on the different Web 2.0 technologies at a Staff Meeting. It demonstrates the library’s commitment to these emerging technologies. It’s good to hear that at your library, they are willing to take time to ensure the staff is familiar and hopefully comfortable with these technologies.