Library Revolution

I have recently been involved in several conversations about Internet use where the folks I’m conversing with seem to bring a very strange (to me) assumption to the conversation. They seem to think that the Internet is somehow antisocial and isolating in nature.

This comes as a bit of a surprise to me… I feel like almost everything I do online has a strong social component these days. To me, the Internet is incredible because of the way it is populated by real people with whom you can interact.

Reading a book, on the other hand, strikes me as pretty isolating.

But some of my colleagues disagree. One person I was recently talking with had volumes to say about how using the Internet too much threatens to completely remove the human element from your life.

Which makes me ask, “What Internet are you on?”

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Thanks to Helene for posting about the National School Board Association’s report, CREATING & CONNECTING//Research and Guidelines on Online Social — and Educational — Networking.

What I find very interesting is just how much of the activity reported has to do with creation of content. Whether that’s blogging, uploading pictures or music, creating characters, sending suggestions and comments… whatever. This is an age group that is actively creating and disseminating content… That’s something we knew already. But It’s nice to see it in writing.

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As you may or may not know by now, I’m still not entirely sold on Second Life. That isn’t to say I don’t think there isn’t a future in 3-D virtual worlds - quite the contrary. But I still think the primary incentive for getting involved in SL projects is to prepare ourselves for the next “next big thing” to grow out of them.

So I was interested to take a peek at this slideshow and the video clips in it…  take a peek!!! And look at the accompanying article, too.)

It seems that I’m not alone in my sneaking suspicion that 3-D online worlds are here to stay.

(Of course, there are still some things that totally baffle me about the way these virtual environments are being used… but I think that’s a post for another day…..)

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One of the great presentations I saw at the Long Island Library Conference yesterday was one showcasing Lindenhurst Library’s podcasting project, presented by director Peter Ward. I thought it was a great example of a library experimenting with the possibilities of becoming a content producer, not just a repository and access point. They use podcasts as a way to distribute library programming and create new audiences for library services, as well as reach out to the community in a unique way.

As a former musician, I was particularly intrigued by the chamber music they have recorded (performed by young, local musicians). This was a great example of how anyone can be a content creator these days… even if you’re not that good. J

I wonder if this general trend might mark a sort of renaissance for amateur musicians… Accomplished amateur musicians were really prevalent in the nineteenth century, and sort of faded into oblivion as access to music created by “real” (professional) performers became easier and easier. It became a case of music consumption being associated with recordings, which were expensive and difficult to make, produce, and disseminate. But recordings are easily consumed. Therefore, it was left to professionals to make the recordings so that everyone else could consume music… And the popularity of amateur music making declined steadily. I know it’s much more complex than that, but that’s the gist of how things went in the 20^th century.

(But I digress!)

Now media production is nearly as easy and access able as media consumption, and is certainly becoming more and more a part of the culture. So I wonder if the proficient amateur musician (or photographer, or filmmaker, etc. etc. etc) is staging a comeback. We are now all empowered to produce and disseminate content, rather than just consume it, and already we are seeing many examples out there of people getting really good at it.

So I think that we need to really think about the role libraries can play – or should play? – in this new age of the proficient amateur producer of content. And I think it’s important for us to think about the ways in which libraries themselves can fit in the role of content producer. Finally, I wonder what trends will develop when it comes to the issue of libraries possibly having a role in preserving this content down the road?

At Lindenhurst, the library is serving as a platform for disseminating user-generated content and is creating and disseminating content of their own making. They are building links in their community by podcasting information about the schools, local performances, and local interest content. Well done!

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So, after a long time of resisting the siren call, I’ve finally started playing around with Twitter. (See my updates on my sidebar???) I’m still not sure how this is useful, but maybe that’s not the important part. Does everything have to be useful for it to appeal to librarians? Or normal people? Maybe it’s enough that it’s fun.

And maybe, like I talked about a little while ago, trying new things isn’t always about finding something that you’re going to find great uses for from now on. Maybe it’s more important that we keep up with new fun things just so that we’re ready for the next “next big thing.” So now, when the Twitter fad fades away, I’ll be ready to try the next fun thing… armed with the knowledge and comfort level my Twitter experience gave me.

Seriously, though… I have no friends! Who wants to help me remedy that???

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Here is a great article on Wired techbiz. At the heart of the discussion is this quote from Tim O’Reilly:

One of the big changes at the heart of web 2.0 is the shift from the creation of software artifacts, which is what the PC revolution was about, to the creation of software services. These are services that ultimately, if they are successful, will require competencies of operation, of scale, and the like.

He goes on to talk about 2.0 really being about the control of data, not the interfaces, saying:

We’re still trying to move people toward really understanding what that new world looks like. I don’t think a lot of people are there. A lot of people still think, “Oh, it’s about social networking. It’s about blogging. It’s about wikis.” I think it’s about the data that’s created by those mechanisms, and the businesses that that data will make possible.

If that isn’t at the heart of the challenges libraries are facing in the attempt to adapt to a 2.0 world, then I don’t know what is.

When we talk about the challenges of implementing (and inventing!) this so-called Library 2.0, I think we need to put a lot of thought into what we’re really struggling to deal with. Is it the emergence of new technologies and interfaces or is it really the uses to which the technologies are put and the way we define, use, and control information?

Food for thought.

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Many librarians who have been in the ‘biz for a while ask me the very valid question of why they should bother becoming involved in social networking outlets…

They’ve been there, done that, tried new things with enthusiasm only to see technologies, trends, interfaces and applications come and go. They’ve invested themselves into learning new things, and they’ve lived to regret committing themselves to what turned out to be transitional technologies or even passing fads.

So why jump on the social bandwagon now by getting involved with MySpace et al, Wikis, Blogging, YouTube, Twitter, Second Life, and so on? If they’re not already “so five minutes ago,” won’t they be soon?

Maybe. Probably. Certainly, in the case of specific communities and software applications. But we should get involved nonetheless.

Do I think Second Life is going to be here forever? No way. But I applaud the efforts of the info island folks and all of the other library and education initiatives going on there. By trying something new (and fun, really!) they are opening their minds to possibilities that have yet to be invented or programmed. And they’re bringing new ideas into the professional conversation.

BTW: Here I am…. I’m not too artistic, but I think she looks like me. Almost. But several pounds lighter.

Here are my top 5 reasons for getting involved in whatever trends we can, even if it amounts only to learning about it, trying it once, and moving on:

1. It will help build your confidence to try something new and experiment. The main barrier to trying new things that I sense in library staff is a lack of confidence. Try something new now, and feed off of your own success!
2. Some of these fads are likely to “stick” in one way or another, right? Or at least elements will live on in new incarnations. When that happens, we’ll be ready to integrate the enduring elements more effectively because we’re already familiar with them.
3. You will build a knowledge base and transferable skills to be used when the next “next big thing” comes around. Sort of similar to # 2… but here I mean it will be easier to learn a completely new technology or interface when it rolls around if you already have a skill set developed using another interface. (Which relates to #1!)
4. You can engage in intelligent conversations with other information professionals about the trends in our field. This is not a small reason. I often encounter other library professionals who can’t easily converse about the trends in their own profession. Embarrassing for them, discouraging for me.
5. Ideas often come from unexpected places… and people. The “next big thing” in your library just might be born out of your involvement in otherwise passing trends.

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