Monday, March 10, 2008

#15 (WEEK 6) Read some perspectives on Web 2.0. Future of Libraries

"This librarian creates and nurtures a living, breathing technology plan."
Michael Stephens

Those of us in education realize that any plan, for it to serve the intended audience, must be flexible. Plans must have goals that empower those that it affects. Great plans involve compromise and a can do spirit.

All too often dealing with teacher librarians can be like dealing with red and blue states on a political map. There is no middle ground. Either you're right, or you're off your rocker. The consequence? We spend a lot of time debating, yet accomplishing nothing. Sometimes this debate becomes books vs. technology. We need all of it!

I really appreciated what librarians Rick Anderson and Michael Stephens had to say about library collections and technology. I believe that both addressed the issue of how libraries are changing due to technology. Is the introduction of technology bad for libraries? No, of course not, but I all too often run into teacher librarians that are too one-sided in their thinking. "Kids get technology in other places, the library should be for literature." Are these librarians wrong? No. Are they too narrow in their thinking? I think so.

Today's information seekers want efficient and accurate access to information. The the place they should be able to count on is their school or public library. Rick Anderson reminds us how technology can be used to expand the amount of accurate information through the development of an electronic collection. Michael Stephens speaks to the necessity of being thoughtful and quick when implementing new technology in your library.

One should think of their library as a collection of resources that reflects the needs of the community it serves.

Out!

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