Sunday, September 28, 2008

Library 2.0

Dr. Wendy Schultz, Infinite Futures resonated with me by stating that "...people will still need experienced tour guides."=The same role of reference staff in a public library now.
I'm excited to learn about these new technologies, hopefully I'll get a chance to share this new found knowledge of 2.0.
Isn't this a lofty idea of what a library in the future might look like: "Library 4.0: This will be the library for the aesthetic economy, the dream society, which will need libraries as mind gyms; libraries as idea labs; libraries as art salons." It's hard to imagine this.
I think the public has a misperception of how technology is used in the library now. Making the leap to a mind gym is a bit much for me. Most of our computers in HFAR are used for gaming, reading e-mail, watching movie clips, downloading music and looking at porn. In-house customers aren't clammering to use our Premium Resources, even though I love to offer these services. Maybe they'll start needing help with 2.0....
I'm not sure how libraries will fit into and thrive in the second coming of the Web.

3 comments:

SafeLibraries® said...

I like the graphic on your blog.

You said, "Most of our computers in HFAR are used for ... looking at porn." Will you please elaborate?

Thank you.

jayne said...

Viewing pornography on the Internet, fortunately is not a rampant problem in our Library, but it exists. It is legal to look at anything "legal" on the public library computers. The Library does use filtering software to protect against access to Internet sites which contain material that is obscene, child pornography, or contains material harmful to minors, but an adult
(17 yrs or older with an ID for Proof of age)can request to have the filter removed in 15 minute increments. We also have privacy screens which allow only the current user to view content striaght on, however, it's not a requirement just a suggestion that it's used. Customers viewing violent images or pornography are not doing anything illegal or against our policy. I'm just sick of looking at it!

SafeLibraries® said...

You realize, of course, that you could do something about it, right?

You realize, of course, that "it is legal to look at anything 'legal' on the public library computers" is not legally correct, right?

You realize, of course, that privacy filters are total failures for the claimed usage, right?

If you were not aware of these things and would like to do something to stop the "problem" that you are "sick of looking at," then I'll be happy to tell you more.