“Where is Library 2.0?”
I’ve been so busy with a, uh, certain, uh, project that getting an e-mail early today to make me think about library services and reaching out to the wired public was just nice and refreshing.
Carl shares some thoughts on how he’d like to direct people to libraries for materials, instead of using more traditional, commercial routes:
"I want a web site that has a static page for everything that Amazon has, with links to many different sources for acquisition: your local libraries, sites that let you trade with people, your local independent bookstores, and then, yes, if you really have to, an online bookseller.
“What I’m talking about is a site that promotes the library and the local economy at the same time. Have you thought lately about how great the library is? The library is a network that can get you pretty much anything. It saves trees and oil by sharing a local resource. And now that we’ve lost most of our town squares, it is one of the few local non-commercial community spots left. What’s more, you’ve already paid for it in your tax bill, so it is a wise financial move."
He wishes library software had open APIs so developers and programmers could tap into them. He wants more Library 2.0. He wants a lot of the stuff we librarians dream about. And, no, he isn’t a librarian. Just someone who wants to get more access to his local library and encourage others to use theirs.
Awesome.
Read his post. It’s great.
Maybe I should admit that I recently met Carl at a local tech gathering, so he’s someone I now know in person. But that’s not why I’m pointing to his stuff. I like his line of thinking and I think it helps us librarians to know what our public wants from us. It’s something we can take back to our library boards to say, “Hey, look at what people want. Can we do this?”
Besides, I know some of you out there know about some services that do some of the things Carl wants to do. Please comment below if you can make suggestions or to enter the dialog.
