That brings me to another thing that I would like libraries to do better at. RSS is a great way to get information to your patrons.  They just sign up and we could send them info on programs, new books, computer classes and anything else that is going on at the library.  My library is currently not doing RSS and the sad thing is that this is not actually a very surprising development.  As I said with my last post if Libraries just jump into the Library 2.o pool maybe we would be able to drum up some more business, but Alas we are more apt to listen to the greatness of these new tools at various conferences than actually utilize them. Rant now over.

 excelsior

This is  my first real post.  That previous one  was really just a test to see if I could get something up on this platform.  This is the post where the rubber with hit the road.   I have a blog over at Blogger.comand I felt that that one is much easier to use.  You can visit that blog at jerrythelibrarian.blogspot.com if you would like to give that a look see.  I am sure if you get the fancy download for wordpress that some the clunkiness of the free version goes away, but that is not an option here at work without involving several levels of people who are well within their rights to tell me no-so I tend to avoid them whenever possible.

For thing two we watched a video and read article and a blog post on library 2.o.  I am pretty familiar with library 2.0 , but any Librarian that attends goes to MLA or MLA like conferences is surely heard how the Library 2.0 is taking over the profession.  The only problem is that it has not. Now don’t get me wrong, I whole heartily agree with the ideas and goals of library 2.0, but it does not seem- at least where I work- that the concept of Library 2.0 has not taken grip of the Brain Wizards quite yet. 

The people in charge are more interested in the latest Library Mangement Fad- Outreach.   Now Outreach is a great idea and something that the Library needs to do in the age of google and a world of 800 cable channels, but I think that instead of using the phone or saddling up the librarianmoblie maybe we should try outreach using the tools discussed here in thing 2.  Start a Library blog so that he community can interact with the Library staff.  Open your Library catalog window just a smidge and let you community comment on books they liked- or didn’t- and make the library web page a better utilized version of your meeting room.   They will tell you at the many meeting you have on outreach that you need to get people who are not usual visitors of the library to come inside an give it a try, but I think they have that slightly backwards.  Yes we need to motivate people  that are not visiting, but I think is actually more important to get the people that are not only not currently using the library and people that would be receptive to what goes on in a library.  And I just think that you have a better chance of getting those people with a investment in Library 2.0 actvities than traditional outreach that reached its zenith 15 years ago.

excelsior

p.s I am buying a new house and although I am sure nobody cares here is the picture.

We close at the end of March!! Yeah me

This is the first post for my 20 things on a stick part II program.  My main blog is over at jerrythelibrarian.blogspot.com- mostly pictures and videos of my wife and kids.  Here at jerrysstickblog I will be working my way through the 20 things and posting about how great they all are.  Viva la technology.