Upon the Shoulders of Giants: Building Library 2.0 Together, From the Platform Up
Paul Miller
Talis

Open Access for Teachers
Dorothea Salo
George Mason University

Web 2.0 and the Small College Library: How to take over the World
David Eubanks
Coker College

Many of the current issues facing libraries revolve around the central theme of technology. Technology affects what we do, how we do things, and what our users expect from us as gateways to information. Two labels that arise in this discussion are Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. Though the exact definition of these two concepts are still being discussed, one thing is clear: these concepts will forever change what libraries can do for their users. The basic concept of Library 2.0 involves the idea that content/information can not only be read, but rewritten and changed, personalized and modified, by anyone. The applications for this read/write web involve many different kinds of social networking tools, many of them open source and freely available. Open source and open access, of ideas, programs, and information has created many heated debates in academia over the nature of copyright, fair use, and who has the right to do what.

Dorothea Salo, Digital Repository Services Librarian at George Mason University, spends her time working on technology development, maintenance, policy, metadata, and outreach for the Mason Archival Repository Service. She will be discussing how open access has enhanced the distance learning experience, how the backlash from the Association of American Publishers is threatening this new paradigm, and what individual teachers can do to protect open access for education.

Paul Miller works at Talis researching the possibilities of what modern library services could be now and in the future. He will be presenting on Library 2.0 and what it means for libraries. More specifically, Paul will be discussing the creation of a “platform” that would include many capabilities, be able to port from one upgrade to another, and have the ability to integrate into many existing library systems.

David Eubanks, currently the Director of Planning, Assessment, and Information Services, has been working in higher education at Coker College since 1991. David takes a different approach to technology on small colleges and presents different ways that librarians can use their knowledge of information structure and technology to help build applications that raise the profile of their library on their campuses and in the eyes of their college administration.

Here are links to the topics from earlier this week:

April 10: Blogging In Libraries
April 11: Podcasting in Libraries
April 12: Leveraging Web 2.0 Technologies

Paul Miller
Talis
http://blogs.talis.com/panlibus/

In illustrating the potential for Library 2.0, commentators tend to point to the exemplary work of a small number of individuals; John Blyberg, Ed Vielmetti, Casey Bisson, Dave Pattern, to name but four. Their work is undeniably impressive, and has done much to illustrate possibilities for working with and extending the current generation of library systems.

However, much that they do requires the full weight of their hard-won knowledge of the internal workings of their particular library system, and of their unique local situation. Replicating their achievements elsewhere is often far harder than it should be – through no fault of theirs – and it remains difficult for the library sector as a whole to realise the potential of transforming their services.

In a recent white paper, Library 2.0: the challenge of disruptive innovation, we explored some of the ways by which Library 2.0’s promise will be realised in mainstream libraries as well as at the leading edge. We suggested that a common Platform of data and of ‘functions’ would allow both libraries and third parties to construct a new generation of applications, in which library services might appear alongside those from other libraries, or relevant organisations beyond the library sector.

This common platform lowers barriers to participation, and removes much of the need to know – or care – about which library system is being queried, or how it needs a search to be formulated. The platform deals with this complexity, and its open nature ensures that the community benefiting most from its capabilities has the interest and ability to maintain and extend the information at its heart.

Working with vendors, libraries and others to build, maintain and deploy such a technology platform is only part of the solution. Equally important is nurturing the expertise that already exists in the community, encouraging current and future developers to share their ideas and experiences, and to learn from one another. Through the TDN we offer a space in which this community can grow and share innovation.

Through the opportunity offered by HigherEd BlogCon, we would welcome the opportunity to explore ways in which a community space such as the TDN might best be shaped to meet the needs of the whole community, regardless of the library system with which they currently work.