Moving into the 21st century, both patrons and organisations are changing and must develop and sustain a relationship with each other in order to create libraries that are both practical and engaging. This can be done with a mindset of a Library 2.0 ethos. This mindset involves the 4 C’s, which are collaboration, conversation, community, and content creation. This mindset strives to create a more efficient and effective way of creating and maintaining an engaging library space and service (Casey & Savastinuk, 2010).
Laura Cole (2016) makes 4 key points that guides libraries in the direction of becoming a Library 2.0. This points are ensuring that there is information accessibility for all patrons, the library shouldn’t depend on a physical space, the role of the librarian is to be a navigator and that digital libraries become a fluid idea. These ideas can be applied to any library space to help with the transition to a 2.0 library.
Information accessibility for all is a fundamental concept. In my current high school, there is a range of student ability. There are vision impaired students, students who read 10 grade levels below and students who read many grade levels above. In order to ensure that all of these students have access to the information, a range of resources need to be available. This can be achieved through having both the traditional, physical book stacks as well as having a more modern, technological approach such as an e-Library collection that offers audio books for students who can’t physically read and e-books which filters such as the dyslexia filter for students who need more personalised help to access the text on screen. This allows all students the chance to find resources or even books to just read for pleasure. Through this move, the library becomes more digital and students begin to move away from the idea that the library is the place of just books and begin to see the space as a collaborative space that they are able to create things in, rather than looking for an outdated, dusty old book.
In a school, there is often a struggle for maintaining classrooms and space. This could be eased through the library space which could be utilised as a skills space rather than a book storage. Through moving to a more online domain with an e-library, the librarian could focus their space on technology to allow students the opportunity to learn the valuable skills to access these resources as well as learning basic digital literacy skills. Through this transition, the librarian becomes more of a navigator than an instructor. This allows the students to collaborate with the librarian and begins the conversation to open up the possibility of deeper learning.
By moving away from the idea of libraries being places of quiet and reading and moving towards the idea that libraries should be loud, collaborative and engaging, students will begin to regard the library as a place that is invaluable to their education which is an idea that they will take with them into their lives.
References
Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2010, May 21). Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library. Library Journal.
Cole, Laura (2016) BiblioTech as the Re-Imagined Public Library: Where Will it Find You? Paper presented at: IFLA WLIC 2016 – Columbus, OH – Connections. Collaboration. Community in Session 213 – Metropolitan Libraries.
