Give me one good reason not to...

Although it seems to have pretty much died down in the last year, there is a debate about whether Library 2.0 concepts are new or if the concepts are old and just delivered in new packaging. In my personal experience, this misses the point.

Web 2.0 tools are here, and libraries that do not embrace them are not taking advantage of the current methods of information delivery and library marketing/promotions. The bigger issue is how to get buy-in from administration and staff that this is an important service venue. I know that opening the library up for anyone to comment on can be risky and you will need someone to actually man the services, but the strengthening of the customer-library connection through social networking is worth it.

Look around the country at some of the things libraries are doing to connect with customers (and allow customers to connect with each other) and then look at your own library. Does your library have a blog that allows customer comments? How about RSS feeds of new titles? Do you have audio and video content on your website? What about a wiki? A MySpace or a Facebook presence? This list of questions could go on and on, and those invested in libraries need to ask how these tools could best be utilized in their setting.

Libraries that use Web 2.0 technology tools to connect to customers create great opportunities for self-promotion and information transmission. Check out this presentation, Future of Libraries: Social Software, by the Librarian in Black, Sarah Houghton-Jan, to see what, how, and why. Just knowing the tools are out there and how to use them is not enough. Social software is not new anymore. Reach out and customers just might reach back.