Moving Libraries Forward to Web 2.0

There is a lot of buzz in the library press about Web 2.0 and its impact on libraries. The California State Library believes that Web 2.0, and the social software that it has given birth to, has tremendous transformational potential, perhaps second only to the introduction of the Internet itself. In recognition of the importance of Web 2.0, the State Library has made a special grant award to Infopeople for a series of FREE training events titled Moving Libraries Forward to Web 2.0. Specific events will include (not in strict chronological order):

  1. Web 2.0: What Library Managers Need to Know, a webcast to be presented in May by Helene Blowers, Public Services Technology Director for the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. Helene is the creator and developer of Learning 2.0, an online discovery program designed to encourage library staff to learn about emerging Web 2.0 technologies.
  2. Web 2.0: A Hands-On Introduction for Library Staff, an on-ground workshop that will be taught by Michelle Mizejewski, Electronic Services Specialist for the Redwood City Library, is scheduled to begin in May.
  3. Web 2.0: Searching Innovations, an on-ground workshop taught by Infopeople searching guru Joe Barker. Scheduled to begin in April, this workshop is already available for registration.
  4. An online course, Web 2.0: Developing a Successful eBranch. Taught by Sarah Houghton-Jan, this has been scheduled for April 3-30, 2007, and is already open for registration. There may also be an on-ground version of this training.
  5. "Web 2.0: Applications for Children's Services," an on-ground workshop taught by LJ Mover & Shaker Bonnie Peirce. This workshop is scheduled to start in August 2007.
  6. "Web 2.0: Teaching the Public About Social Software," an on-ground workshop tentatively scheduled to begin in July, will be taught by LJ 2006 Mover and Shaker Beth Gallaway.
  7. Web 2.0: Connecting with the Community Using Social Software, designed for public relations, marketing, and outreach staff, will explore how to use social software to form partnerships, do outreach, etc. This will be an online course, scheduled to begin in August. The instructor will be Meredith Farkas of Information Wants To Be Free.
  8. "Web 2.0: Using Social Software with Teens," an on-ground workshop that is scheduled for September. This on-ground workshop will be taught by Matt Gullett, Emergent Technology Manager of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County.

As noted above, all training in the Web 2.0 series will be FREE to participants. Registration for all events will be open to anyone in the California library community and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. As events are scheduled, they will be posted on the Infopeople website, http://infopeople.org and will be announced on CALIX, the Infopeople mailing lists, and other relevant lists. To be sure that you receive the announcements as soon as they are available, you are encouraged to subscribe to the ifptraining mailing list. We have also created a wiki to support this series. FYI: if you want to keep up via RSS with new offerings in this series (actually, ALL Infopeople workshops) - here's the feed URL: http://infopeople.org/workshop/rss. Plop it into the news reader of your choice and you're good to go!

We have also established a wiki to support this series. You are welcome to explore and contribute to the wiki's contents!

For individuals who would like to learn more about Web 2.0 concepts before deciding which of these workshops to attend, we recommend the following articles and websites:

  • Five Weeks to a Social Library
    • The first free, grassroots, completely online course devoted to teaching librarians about social software and how to use it in their libraries. It was developed to provide a free, comprehensive, and social online learning opportunity for librarians who do not otherwise have access to conferences or continuing education and who would benefit greatly from learning about social software.
  • Web 2.0
    • This Wikipedia article does a good job of explaining the various services that make up Web 2.0, and the technologies behind it.
  • Web 2.0 and Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software
    • This article from ALA's TechSource by Michael Stephens of Tame the Web, discusses how Web 2.0 social software can be put to use in libraries.
  • Library 2.0 and "Library 2.0"
    • This Cites and Insights article by Walt Crawford is a thorough look at the phenomenon of Library 2.0 and examines whether it is hype or an actual movement.
  • Library 2.0 Theory: Web 2.0 and Its Implications for Libraries
    • This article by Jack M. Maness of the University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries looks at the concept of "Library 2.0," an offshoot of Web 2.0 that directly addresses the application of Web 2.0 social software in libraries.
  • Web 2.0: Building the New Library
    • This article, by Dr Paul Miller in the online journal Ariadne, examines the characteristics of Web 2.0, and how they can and/or should be employed in libraries.

On-ground workshops in the Moving Libraries Forward to Web 2.0 series will initially be scheduled in five locations throughout the state; additional sessions will be added in response to demand.

If you have questions about the Web 2.0 series, please contact Holly Hinman, hinmanh@infopeople.org, tel. 626-796-0913.

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