#23 Endings or beginnings

What do I think of what we've been doing for the last couple of months? On the whole I've enjoyed it enormously and I have learned a great deal about the tools and resources available. On the odd occasion my 'f' word hasn't been 'fun' but rather 'frustration' - but that is part of learning and thinking things through.

What Helene Blowers and her colleagues at PLCMC have achieved in developing and making available the program is terrific. In due course I would like to go on to or dip into the '43 Things' she has set up.

We've been given a taster menu and the opportunity to develop some knowledge and confidence. The real test for us is to reflect on which of the tools might best assist us to deliver our services and to reflect on how we can maintain our awareness of what develops in the post Web2.0 world. Because I have done the program without much conversation with colleagues I would benefit from a discussion with others who've just completed it to talk about which of the tools we've looked at present opportunities for our services.

I do know that the harnessing of Web2.0 in the library environment has given rise to much spirited conversation around how we skills ourselves, how we allocate resources, whether we are ceding authority by inviting user participation and contributions and therefore dumbing down and so on. It is for this reason that two recent newspaper articles struck a chord. The first piece (Weekend Australian, 18-19 August 2007, Inquirer, p28, Strike up the bank for elitism) (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22262635-28737,00.html) was an edited extract of a speech by Claire Fox to the Centre for Independent Studies Forum and made me stop and think about the professional skills and judgement we do need to contribute and make accessible regardless of the public and user interaction we invite. The second piece was by Rachel Buchanan (The Age, Saturday 25 August 2007, Insight, p7, Black and white and all over?) (http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/black-and-white-and-all-over/2007/08/24/1187462515667.html) who reflected on the role of reporters and media organisations in the Web2.0 world - all very relevant to libraries.

Thanks to Leneve for enabling me to do the program and to Denise and Lynette at Yarra Plenty for looking after us.