Monday, August 13, 2007

Future of Libraries?

In this "Thing," we are asked to read over Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and then blog our thoughts. Well, here is my 2 cents: On the one hand, I love the ability that we all have now to reach out to each other, to show our lives to others through YOUTUBE, etc. These are marvelous mechanisms that I never thought I would see in my lifetime. And certainly libraries need to be on the cutting edge of this technology, and we as librarians need to understand, work with, and use this knowledge.

That said, there is a part of me that looks at all of this technology and realizes that even with it, human beings are no closer to understanding each other than they were 50 years ago. We humans are so lonely that we are constantly on our cell phones, text messaging, emailing, and blogging just to reinforce that we exist, that our opinions matter, and that we are connected to each other. All the technology in the world and all the computer-breakthroughs can't alter that basic need. Are YOUTUBE and all of the blogs bringing us any closer to really understanding each other? Or are they just a means to show how "advanced" we all are; a means to show-off?

As I continue my voyage, these are "things" that I will endeavor to come to grips with and to resolve.

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