Barriers to implementing social software
I see a couple of different barriers to implementing social software tools at the public library where I work. One is lack of long term support by staff members. There is no lack of enthusiasm when a web 2.0 technology is mentioned, and everyone is eager to get started using it, but after the initial enthusiasm wears off, we are left with a bunch of half finished concepts that aren't going anywhere. I think this is due to a lack of clear understanding on the part of the staff as to what our patrons and library as a whole really needs and expects from these tools, a lack of research, if you will, to see how effective it would be in our unique setting. Just because the library in the next town over is using something doesn't mean it will work for us.
On the flip side of that, I think the higher ups need to encourage staff when they come up with ideas, and foster growth of these tools. It's all too easy to say we don't have the time, resources, energy, training, etc. when it comes to implementing a new tool. You have to make time if it's something you really believe in.
Another big barrier to overcome is the lack of confidence on the part of the staff who feel they don't understand enough about technology to learn something new. They feel they won't ever use this tool, so why waste time learning it? Everyone is busy enough as is. It's important to help create a culture of learning and experimentation, to make the new tools seem like fun (which they are!) and easy to use (which they also are!). Most of the tools we've looked at this semester have been very user friendly. There's no reason why people with even a limited amount of computer knowledge couldn't learn and use this tools. It's just a matter of making it relevant to their lives, so they want to learn.
