#15: The Whole 2.0 Thing

How long has this Library 2.0 idea been going around? Because Queens has always been
customer-oriented, cooperative,and (believe me!) in a state of constant change for at least a quarter of a century.
I think the biggest changes brought about by the Library 2.0 notion are happening in the cash-poor, somnolent suburban and rural libraries, where growing access to the Internet is allowing isolated libraries to connect with a lot more people, and provide more services without spending more money. Web-based word-processing and spreadsheet applications allow libraries to offer these things to customers without paying for big-ticket brand name apps. Blogging lets them keep wired customers up-to-date on news, events, changes to events. Teach your customers how to use a mouse so they can email their grown kids on the danged computer those kids got them and they can't figure out how to use, and They Will Come.
Yes, libraries have always been welcoming places, designed to provide for the needs of the customer. It was just that intimidating card catalog that was scaring everyone. That, and the electric erasers. (Those were technology once!)
I feel like the notion of Library 2.0 is just a way of talking about a few new things. A few big new things, sure, but it'll be okay. They're the same things we've always done, we just need a new way of doing them if we want everybody to keep talking about our sudden hipness. (Enough with that, already.)