Blogger John Blyberg added insight on Library 2.0. He states that Library 2.0 is partially a response to a post-Google world. Blyberg believes that internal reorganization and radical changes are needed for libraries. I thought about the occasional patron who still asks "Where is your card catalog?", and wonder what our libraries will look like in twenty years. Our shelves of unused books become quite dusty as students mainly use computers.
Stephen Abram of Murdoch University in Australia provided an international perspective in a video "programme" giving a brief overview of the 23 Things project in August of 2007. He challenged librarians to put human beings back in the information continuum. The 23 Things are experience-based. Abram encouraged us to set priorities to be "addicted to the priority of learning." I could understand what he meant as I found that to be my situation when I took online classes. The classes I took ranged from a six day class to a one semester one, but when each ended, I almost felt withdrawal after being so focused on them. Abram wants us to be motivated to just find 15 minutes a day for the 23 Things project. He encouraged us to look at unintended consequences at what is changing, and said to take time to reflect on what is being learned. Being I am doing the 23 Things during the summer when I am not at at work with my colleagues, it will be interesting to see if that changes anything when I return to work in August. One co-worker has already completed the 23 Things, and another plans to do it. While many web tools are Stephen Abram's "favorites", I liked what he said about using the web for browsing rather than just retrieving.
