Can’t Get There
From Here
Achieving Organization 2.0
Meredith Farkas
Norwich University

So what is library 2.0?

Web 1.0: Democratized
Access to Information

Web 2.0: Democratized
Participation

Revolutionary or evolutionary?
http://www.davidleeking.com/2007/08/24/library-20-ripples-another-go-at-the-graph/

What is different now?

Technology has enabled
us to do so much more

but we’re no longer the
only game in town.

Library 2.0 is a
state of mind
•Working to meet changing user needs
•Trusting our users (radical trust)
•Getting rid of the culture of perfect
•Aware of emerging technologies and
opportunities
•Looking outside of the library world for
applications, opportunities, inspiration

We really need
to do these Web
2.0 things all the
other libraries are
doing

I think our library really needs a blog
to be relevant to our patrons. Don’t
worry, I’ll handle everything.

This will be the best
library blog ever!

So what’s the
problem?

Why does it fail?
• Use of social software is not seen as furthering
the library’s mission
• Social software is treated as someone’s
“pet project.”
• Social software is not planned for strategically
like other technologies
• Once the newness wears off, people are less
motivated to contribute
• Staff are not given time to work on social
software

Building
Organization 2.0

Know your users

Develop a Learning Culture

Question Everything

Integrate 2.0 philosophy and tech
into library planning

Use technology to
solve problems

Improve communication
with our users

Highlight our Collections

Make our services more visible

Improve internal
knowledge sharing

Develop a Risk-
Tolerant Culture

Beware the Culture of Perfect

Be Agile

Good Ideas can Come from
Anyone and Anywhere

Give Staff Time for
Creative Endeavors

Nurture Talent

Encourage Network-Building

Create Partnerships

Be transparent with staff

Be transparent with
patrons

Involve Staff from All
Levels in Planning
I can haz your cooperation?

Understand Staff Needs
and Limitations

Plan for the Continued use
and Maintenance of Tech

Assess, Assess, Assess!

Time Must be Devoted to all This

Will you need to create
new jobs or just shuffle?

Is your organization (as it is
currently structured) able
to make all this happen?

Thanks!
mgfarkas@gmail.com
AIM: librarianmer
Links and presentation at
http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com

Photo Credits
• Library 2.0 Meme Map http://flickr.com/photos/gbierens/178568449/ by Gerard Bierens
• Digitage Web 2.0 http://flickr.com/photos/oceanflynn/315385916/ by ocean.flynn
• Long Range Plan Discussion http://flickr.com/photos/maubrowncow/2763362494/ by Nebraska
Library Commission
• TBLC Annual Meeting http://flickr.com/photos/sylvar/287940515/ by Sylvar
• Amazing PowerPoint Presentation http://flickr.com/photos/maubrowncow/2763362494/ by
maubrowncow
• Dewey or don't we? http://flickr.com/photos/scampion/1500054745/ By scampion
• RISK #2 http://flickr.com/photos/tollaksen/967960/ by Bjornar
• Perfection http://flickr.com/photos/unloveable/2401166750/ by unloveable
• IMG_2016.JPG http://flickr.com/photos/stevenjude/848723658/ by stevenjude
• Wait: I’ll fix it. http://flickr.com/photos/stshores24/488419188/ by sshores24
• Farm Cat Group http://flickr.com/photos/weesmalldoll/432578986/ by weesmalldoll
• The Spongebob Square, Er, Roundpants Juggle http://flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2574029855/ by
Cayusa
• Rapid Shuffle http://flickr.com/photos/latitudes/66424863/ by Johnny Blood
• sunny day http://flickr.com/photos/iamthebestartist/2226165685/ by jessamyn