Thing #15--Library 2.0/Web 2.0

Well, I lost my first blog (and it was a dandy), so I'm going to try to recreate it...probably with not much success.

WOW!!! I can remember when 'surfing the web' was THE thing to do. Amazing how in a few years things can change so fast that just 'surfing the web' is an almost extinct function for seekers of information. It is only useful/helpful in a limited way today.

I think there will probably be a need for printed library materials for the foreseeable future as there are still quite a few of us 'baby boomers' around that are not comfortable enough with the Internet to use it for all or most of our information fixes. The younger generations will continually challenge successive generations to meet their ever-growing demand for newer, better, faster information sources. Having been born, bred, and raised in this information era, the new-and-improved librarians of our future will definitely be up to this challenge.

As circulation numbers decrease for printed material, it only makes sense to begin decreasing the purchase of these types of information products and gear-up for the demands for information services online. Library budgets have the possibility of being used more efficiently in the future by utilizing fewer printed and more digitized formats...with little or no waste. These services need to be available for all customers with as few barriers to them as possible so their time is spent reading and learning, not struggling with antiquated search interfaces or having to go to the library to obtain information they require. Move on into the next century!

If I were a young library school graduate with my future ahead of me, I would probably find this new type of information highway the beginning of a wonderful adventure, something bigger and better than you ever imagined. I just can't grasp all the possibilities that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will have at their disposal in the coming years. It blows my mind totally! It is a very exciting time for anyone and everyone who seeks information, knowledge and education.