LIBR 246-12: Web 2.0 and Social Networking Tools (Fall 2008)

Where did the time go? Seems like just yesterday we were talking about blogs and RSS. Now you're all social software experts and hopefully can see many more possibilities for the use of social software in libraries. Your enthusiasm in the class was inspiring to me and your reflections even helped me to see many of these tools and ideas in new ways.

I'm a big believer in experiential and reflective learning. To be able to read about something, use it, and reflect on the experience creates knowledge that is far more "sticky" than if you just read about these things. When I first started blogging, I was constantly amazed by how it helped me to process my thoughts. Sometimes my own views about something weren't clear to me until I wrote about it. Blogs are a tremendous learning tool, especially in distance education. And, as you saw in this class, blogs can really bring people together around ideas. I think it takes classroom discussions to a new level and I hope you got a lot out of blogging and commenting.

While this course is about social software, this teaches more than a collection of technologies. It teaches how to critically evaluate technologies for use in libraries, how to incorporate technologies into reference and instruction, how technologies impact the learning process, how to plan for technology implementation, how to evaluate the imapct of technologies, how to be fearless about learning new technologies, how to keep up with technology in the profession beyond this course and more. When Facebook and Twitter are long gone, you will still know how to propose new technologies to your colleagues in a way that will increase the likelihood of buy-in. You will still be able to look critically at technologies and figure out whether or not they're right for your library. You'll still know how to plan for the implementation and ongoing maintenance of technologies. What I've learned from social tools has helped me in managing projects that have nothing whatsoever to do with social tools. These skills are so easily transferrable. I hope you find that to be the case as well.

I believe that knowledge of these tools and how to apply emerging technologies in libraries will help you in your career. I see more and more job ads asking for experience with Web 2.0 technologies and there has been a big increase in the number of Emerging Technology Librarian positions. Employers are looking for people who understand how technologies can be applied in libraries, how to critically evaluate technologies and how to keep up with future trends in libraries. Remember the experiences you had using these tools and capitalize on that when you have job interviews where the employers are looking for someone with tech-savvy.

This class has been a pleasure to teach and you all really are assets to the profession. I wish you the best in school and in your careers. If you ever need advice about these technologies, please feel free to email me. Also, if you ever decide to start up a blog outside of class, let me know. I'd love to follow it!