Inspiration!

I just attended a workshop by Michael Stephens on "Library 2.0" His presentation got me thinking about possible ways we can increase service to our patrons. Check out his blog including his description of his tour of MN doing these presentations Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology

In his overview of trends, he pointed out that the way people communicate and share information is changing. Email, cell phones, instant messaging, text messaging, blogs, social sites like myspace.com are all becoming the preferred way to communicate. How do libraries continue to be relevant when most people's perceptions of libraries include only the concept of books?

Speaking of perceptions, I was also fortunate to win a door prize of the recent report by OCLC "Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources." Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (2005) [OCLC - Membership Reports] I'll be wading through that within the next few months. (Is it only a librarian who would get excited about a several-hundred page report as a door prize?)

I plan to do multiple postings over the next few days about some of the trends and some of the web tools that Michael talked about.