Thing #15--Library 2.0 and Beyond!

From Wendy Schultz's "To a Temporary Place in Time", the idea of libraries as "conversations" rather than just collections of books and documents really hit home for me (Schultz, 2006). As did the notion that libraries are not in communities, but rather are communities! This couldn't be closer to the truth in my opinion. For centuries, people have valued the ability to access stored information (and to preserve their own individual histories). I see librarians as the link between people and knowledge. As users embark upon their own individual journeys of life-long learning, I see librarians as the helpful guides along the way--those figures who provide clues, hints, or directions in keeping users on the right information path. Indeed, as librarians we are responsible for helping people find the information they need and desire. This wouldn't be possible in today's world without the assistance of technology, and Library 2.0 is the vehicle for making these important connections. Connecting to people millions of miles away, in different countries, different time zones, from different cultures, would not be accomplished easily without the benefits of using information technology. To me, the library is more than just a foundation of walls, or a storehouse for physical books. Like Schultz indicates, libraries are "everywhere, barrier-free, and participatory" (Schultz, 2006). Through the use of Library 2.0, librarians are breaking free from the physical constraints of connecting users to information, and instead are able to work towards building a truly inter-connected global community, founded upon a common desire for information and knowledge.