Thing # 15 Web 2.0, Library 2.0, & the Future of Libraries

Wikipedia was most helpful for me because I needed the background knowledge of these terms we've been slinging around. I'm never comfortable saying things my son might ask me about and I don't know what I'm talking about. So that's a relief that I can at least give a brief explanation now without just having a blank look of panic take over while I stumble and make up some lingo mumbo jumbo. I do want to wave the yellow flag of caution as we all charge into the world of library change. Last week I listened to Dr. Michael Chirichello speak in my district about increasing leadership capacity and highly effective teams. The most salient point I took away was to never again use the evil word change. When we tell people we want/need them to embrace educational change to improve test scores or every other wonderful desired result, we DON'T VALUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW. Before we go changing libraries and librarians as we know them, we must admit that the old and current style had/has value, or there would have been no attraction for all of us presently involved. Dr. Chirichello recommends the better way to approach change is to say: "We are going to make some TRANSITIONS, and I'm going to hold your hand as we make this journey together." This way no one feels threatened and devalued, and everyone can begin to appreciate the JOURNEY. The library 2.0 world is definitely a transitional journey for librarians, teachers, and administrators. We've got to take the trip for the students and their futures, because we have to prepare them for a world that does not even exist right now. They need the skills to know how to react to the transitions they will have to deal with... Agrab.