Friday, May 11, 2007

Tutorial 7: Award Winners & Ning

Introduction

Throughout the course of the Library Learning 2.0 program, we have explored just a small sampling of the new Internet technologies and Web sites that are empowering users with the ability to crate and share content. With adequate time, however, there are many more tools we could explore. A recent estimate placed the number of Web 2.0 tools at somewhere between 300-500 with only a handful emerging as market dominators. And although time will only tell which of these new collaborative, social networking and information tools will remain on top, one thing is for sure, they are not going to go away (at least anytime soon).

Explore

Explore a site of your choice from the list of Web 2.0 Award Winners. With so any to choose from, it is advisable to first select a category of interest (such as Books or Personal Organization) and then select a tool/site to explore. Be careful to select a tool that is Free and that does not require a plug-in or download.

Another site that is gaining in popularity is the social networking site called Ning. With Ning, you can set up your own social network, such as an after school or book club. To learn more about Ning, check out one of the librarian or school-related groups as: Library 2.0, ALA Members, or Teacher-Librarian.

Join a Ning network.

Connect

Library 2.0 is term used to describe a new set of concepts for developing and delivering library services. The name is an extension of Web 2.0 and shares many of its same philosophies and concepts including harnessing the user in both design and implementation of services, embracing constant change as a development cycle over the traditional notion of upgrades, and reworking library services to meet the users in their space, as opposed to ours (libraries.)

Many argue that the notion of Library 2.0 is more than just a term used to describe concepts that merely revolve around the use of technology; it also a term that can be used to describe both physical and mindset changes that are occurring within libraries to make our spaces and services more user-centric and inviting. Others within the profession assert that libraries have always been 2.0: collaborative, customer friendly, and welcoming. Irregardless of which side of the debate proponents fall, both sides agree that libraries of tomorrow, even five or ten years from now, will look substantially different from libraries today.

Read two or three of the perspectives on Library 2.0 from the list below.


Reflect

Create a post that describes the explored Web 2.0 tool and the Ning network that you joined. Share the useful features and the applications for use in a library setting.

Library 2.0 is many things to many people. What does it mean to you? What does it mean for school libraries?

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