Facing the Challenge of Web 2.0 as a Disruptive Technology Phil Bradley Internet Librarian International 2007 [email_address] http://www.philb.com

What’s Web 2.0 all about? Is it…

Is it…

THIS?

Or how about?

Is it even about…

Sometimes it’s all about: “ It can’t be done” “ We don’t have the resources” “ Bandwidth problems” “ Security issues” “ Write a proposal” “ Not your job” “ Not enough time”

“ It can’t be done”

“ We don’t have the resources”

“ Bandwidth problems”

“ Security issues”

“ Write a proposal”

“ Not your job”

“ Not enough time”

It’s also about chaos… “ Staff complaints force red faced [company] into Facebook U-turn” Legalweek 25/05/07 “ Employees should have access to social networking websites such as Facebook during office hours” TUC BBC News 30/08/07 Students campaigns at Facebook threats force HSBC to change plans Guardian Unlimited 30/08/07

“ Staff complaints force red faced [company] into Facebook U-turn” Legalweek 25/05/07

“ Employees should have access to social networking websites such as Facebook during office hours” TUC BBC News 30/08/07

Students campaigns at Facebook threats force HSBC to change plans Guardian Unlimited 30/08/07

And even more chaos One third of bloggers risk getting the sack by posting derogatory content about employers BBC News 24/05/07 “ Companies urged: ‘let your staff blog’” BBC News 04/04/07 Diplomat blog pulled after abuse BBC News 12/04/07 Keele University threaten disciplinary action regarding Facebook content BBC News 24/05/07

One third of bloggers risk getting the sack by posting derogatory content about employers BBC News 24/05/07

“ Companies urged: ‘let your staff blog’” BBC News 04/04/07

Diplomat blog pulled after abuse BBC News 12/04/07

Keele University threaten disciplinary action regarding Facebook content BBC News 24/05/07

So what’s actually happening? Change Librarians Other information professionals Technical support staff Publishers Companies Search Engine Optimizers Managers

Change

Librarians

Other information professionals

Technical support staff

Publishers

Companies

Search Engine Optimizers

Managers

Change (continued) Staff Press and publicity departments Organizations Other groups Social groupings Microsoft Google Etc. etc. etc….

Change (continued)

Staff

Press and publicity departments

Organizations

Other groups

Social groupings

Microsoft

Google

Etc. etc. etc….

Change is Scary A challenge Requires thought Removes the safety zone Questions the traditional methods May result in us doing the wrong thing

Scary

A challenge

Requires thought

Removes the safety zone

Questions the traditional methods

May result in us doing the wrong thing

Because… When you come right down to it, Web 2.0 is not about Software Resources Websites Webpages Silicon Valley It’s about …

When you come right down to it, Web 2.0 is not about

Software

Resources

Websites

Webpages

Silicon Valley

It’s about …

A change of mindset

A change of mindset

Some library based challenges How can I trust that these things will continue to be available? These things are not authoritative I don’t have time to learn all these things!

How can I trust that these things will continue to be available?

These things are not authoritative

I don’t have time to learn all these things!

Too much information out there to keep up with How do these things make money? I don’t know which ones to use – what if I get it wrong? I’m not allowed to do this stuff

Too much information out there to keep up with

How do these things make money?

I don’t know which ones to use – what if I get it wrong?

I’m not allowed to do this stuff

But it’s only in a beta version! My place of work doesn’t want to be associated with these things I’d love to use these things but they’re banned where I work It’s just a buzzword and a fad – no point learning it because it will go away

But it’s only in a beta version!

My place of work doesn’t want to be associated with these things

I’d love to use these things but they’re banned where I work

It’s just a buzzword and a fad – no point learning it because it will go away

On the other hand… The ‘Just do it’ brigade We’re right at the edge of what’s going on Remember that people get scared Computer stuff is not inherently fascinating!

The ‘Just do it’ brigade

We’re right at the edge of what’s going on

Remember that people get scared

Computer stuff is not inherently fascinating!

Never the twain shall meet? Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 isn’t about technology It’s about doing things better It’s about end users It’s about making your life easier

Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 isn’t about technology

It’s about doing things better

It’s about end users

It’s about making your life easier

For the anti brigade Forget the ‘2.0’ label and consider how you can do things better See if there’s an application out there that can assist you with it Try it

Forget the ‘2.0’ label and consider how you can do things better

See if there’s an application out there that can assist you with it

Try it

For the ‘just do it’ brigade Forget the ‘2.0’ label and consider how you can do things better Use things, explore them Approach colleagues in the spirit of ‘have you tried?’ and don’t push it Accept there IS a digital divide

Forget the ‘2.0’ label and consider how you can do things better

Use things, explore them

Approach colleagues in the spirit of ‘have you tried?’ and don’t push it

Accept there IS a digital divide

For the technical staff 2.0 resources are an opportunity to do more interesting things Embrace ‘how can we’ not ‘why we can’t’ 2.0 is not a threat Your job should be to empower

2.0 resources are an opportunity to do more interesting things

Embrace ‘how can we’ not ‘why we can’t’

2.0 is not a threat

Your job should be to empower

For all the managers Trying things out is a good thing Getting things wrong isn’t necessarily a bad thing Professional development is crucial Be led by future needs, not past requirements

Trying things out is a good thing

Getting things wrong isn’t necessarily a bad thing

Professional development is crucial

Be led by future needs, not past requirements

More for managers (because they get paid more) Embrace ‘yes and’ rather than ‘no but’ Do not let technology dictate to you Remind YOUR managers that it’s about change 2.0 can save money!

Embrace ‘yes and’ rather than ‘no but’

Do not let technology dictate to you

Remind YOUR managers that it’s about change

2.0 can save money!

Do we need a revolution? No, we don’t Small implementations Change organically, embrace, don’t fight Be curious and play! (Play is not bad)

No, we don’t

Small implementations

Change organically, embrace, don’t fight

Be curious and play! (Play is not bad)

Ultimately… Pandora’s box is open Join or start a constructive dialogue Be involved with developments We’re about finding out about stuff!

Pandora’s box is open

Join or start a constructive dialogue

Be involved with developments

We’re about finding out about stuff!

And Finally… A library is a growing organism. — Shiyali Ramamrita RANGANATHAN (1892-1972) "Librarians must be like Krishna! And descend into the world to combat ignorance!"

A library is a growing organism. — Shiyali Ramamrita RANGANATHAN (1892-1972)

"Librarians must be like Krishna! And descend into the world to combat ignorance!"

Thank you! Website: http://www.philb.com Email: [email_address] Weblog: http://www.philbradley.typepad.com/

Website: http://www.philb.com

Email: [email_address]

Weblog: http://www.philbradley.typepad.com/