Our traditional ways of providing information to clients often conjure visions such as static or labour-intensive or difficult to understand or requiring too much user-input or not in step with Gen Y technological interests or out of date, etc ...
Probably Web2 is the way to step forward, make the necessary changes or whatever. Like all new technology, it enables visions of wonderful things - users can provide online reviews to a library website, bibliographical descriptions will actually describe whether a resource is the type of format a teacher wants, students will actively engage in learning about referencing because our interactive (3D) tutorial speaks their particular language or learning style, and so on.
And when we reach there or think we're on the way, maybe the danger is in then relaxing. We've reached the summit. Don't we still make this mistake at times - it's so relaxing to take a step back, relax, and be glad the pressure is off. But maybe we will continue to be passionate about wanting to stay at the "change" edge. We still have to pursue ongoing professional development, and enjoy it. If we don't, then the next time we have to make a big transitional leap, maybe it will be too overwhelming, the temptation to relax overtakes the need to move on. If we don't move on, perhaps libraries will be easily taken over in their role by other people in other related areas. There are professional jobs in existence which we often think sound very much like our library (information) jobs already.
Here's to Web2, 3D and dreamworlds, if needs be ... but don't get lost in the dreaming. We have to
1. Master the technology sufficiently to develop a clear picture of what could be done with it
2. Make the picture happen - either individually, as a group, or by working with related professionals with the level of technical expertise to make it work. It's so important not to overlook the value of great technical ability,
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment