Welcome to the Memgroup LIS768 library’s Learning 2.0 training guide!  Here you will learn about some Web 2.0 tools, as well as gain hands on experience with each tool.

To begin, Library 2.0 is a movement within library service to create user centered changed, and has it’s root in the rise of Web 2.0 tools.  Some of these tools are, wiki’s, social networking, chat, and more.  Library 2.0 brings the user into primary focus.  The exact definition of Library 2.0 is still under debate, but a favorite is one written by Meredith Farkas in her blog, Information Wants to be Free:

• Working to meet changing user needs – get to know your users and non-users, develop a culture of assessment, examine any and all assumptions about how services and systems should “be”, visiting other libraries and remembering what it is to be a patron, and then changing once you’ve figured it all out.
• Believing in our users – trusting them, listening to them, giving them a role in helping to define library services for the future
• Getting rid of the culture of perfect – being able and willing to experiment, learning from failure, being agile as an organization, continuously improving services based on feedback rather than working behind the scenes for ages to create the “perfect” product or service
• Being aware of emerging technologies and opportunities – looking for partnerships in your community or with other libraries, being aware of library and technology trends, giving staff time to try out new technologies and learn
• Looking outside of the library world for applications, opportunities, inspiration – understanding the culture of the technologies and how they are used by the public, seeing how technologies are implemented in non-profit and for-profit institutions

This is a chance to think about Library 2.0 as well as learn about the new technology trends.  We ask that you be open and willing to experiment.  And of course, don’t forget to have fun stepping out into the new world!

The first step in this process is to create your own Blog.  A blog, according to wikipedia is, “a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.”

For a more detailed description, watch this video:

Now it is time to start your own!  To do this you can start a blog simply at www.wordpress.com.  There does not have to be much fancy, but take time to pick out your own theme and write an introductory post.  Once you have done that, please email, memgroup@library.lis768 and let us know if you would like your blog to be added to the list of blogs participating.

Please be aware that anything published for this on your blog will be out there in the world, however do not be afraid to post.  Your opinion is valued and participation is essential to learning about our new communication landscape.  You can choose to remain “anonymous” and not use your full name.

As you go through the 2.0 Training please let us know about your experiences by blogging.  Write about the new tools you learn about, which ones you love, which ones you hate, and what you are discovering.  We are excited to read your blogs!

Happy blogging.

For help with wordpress, check out these two videos: