Thing #15

"Away from the Icebergs" by Rick Anderson highlights 3 points of caution for libraries heading into the 2.0 world. Anderson admonishes librarians to reconsider their print collections, and to start including electronic formats to enhance patron access. Anderson also believes the ideas of "user education" and the library as a physical location should be reexamined. http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/2.htm
LCPL is already taking steps to address Anderson's first point: the electronic books and databases we offer expand our patrons' ability to access information.
The idea of simplifying accessibility is enchanting, and probably a goal we should constantly keep in mind as we reevaluate our collection, and how we offer access to it. Can we look forward to a day when there is a single search point for all library resources? Something like an Amazon search, that allows you to search the entire site or select specifics: just books, or dvds. For us, it could be a search that incorporated all our databases, our catalog, and selected websites, perhaps even blogs. But: how would we present this information so as not to confuse out patrons? How much extra staff time would be required to maintain it?
Anderson's third idea cautions us not to assume that patrons will always come to us for their information needs. I find it interesting that he includes the library's virtual presence in this caution. Why would anyone visit a library webpage when they could get information elsewhere? Are we going to reach a point where inputting a library card number to access online information is considered too much of a bother? Will libraries start investing in market research to help them promote their virtual presences?
When I started in this profession, a mere 10 years ago, I was helping to update a card catalog...how far have we come!