Perpetually beta (Thing 2)

I’ve been reading some L2 and W2 articles a lot lately to think about ways to incorporate new technology into our library here at Flagler College. One comment I read over and over is that the internet is “perpetually beta,” meaning all content on the web is infinitely transmutable. The ability to adapt library web resources brings the possibility of instant transition to new client needs or library dissemination of information.

Stephen Abram commented on connecting Amazon book images to the OPAC and creating virtual, browsable bookshelves. My greatest concern of L2 computer technology based transformations is the lack of serendipity when browsing stacks. Creating browsable bookshelves eliminates that lack of spontaneity in digital research by adding connectivity to the OPAC, links that click clients through related but unexpected material. (As an aside, librarians have always been able to do this by knowing how to browse metadata taxonomy, but clients don’t necessarily have the knowledge or skills to follow leads to unanticipated resources.)

Speaking of taxonomy, I am afraid of folksonomy as much as I want to implement it. Blyberg hints that libraries must understand users’ search patterns and allowing for their input to OPAC records based on natural language querying.

Blyberg also states that L2 is not an option—it’s already happening. Storey says that calling new initiatives “Library 2.0” implies that “Library 1.0” never responded to the evolution of user or librarian needs. Presuming a “Library 2.0” model makes libraries static since the great library at Alexandria. Blyberg insists that libraries are already responding to L2 needs, consciously or not.

Storey says that the web has become “the center of a new digital lifestyle.” Libraries are as perpetually beta as the internet. RSS feeds for user selected library updates. IM reference chat. Digital subscription to periodicals instead of print. Coffee in libraries. The library changes as physically as it does virtually. We are L2 whether we have intended to embrace it or not.