Librarians on Library 2.0: Activity #20

What constitutes "a library" these days? What is a librarian's role in a community? What constitutes a "community"? With the Internet and increased digitization of resources, these terms are more difficult to define. Traditionally, librarians have seen themselves as the gatekeepers of knowledge. They want to help people find the information they're looking for. But they also want to expose people to a variety of perspectives. They also want to preserve a certain canon of culture for posterity. To this end, they have cataloged materials, selected materials for their collections, and deselected materials because of space limitations. Some libraries maintain only a popular "core" collection, weeding what becomes worn or obsolete. Some take on a more archival or research orientation, where space and obsolescence matter less than collection comprehensiveness. Some libraries have been highly specialized, serving a more rarefied community.
Now, because of the World Wide Web, every library has the potential for a limitless collection, serving a potentially worldwide audience. Libraries have become more peripheral to general information-gathering. With the potential of downloading what media is requested on demand, librarians no longer need to guess what people will want and risk buying and storing a lot of materials which won't move. Librarians risk marginalization, or being seen as irrelevant. Library 2.0 offers ways in which the librarians can become part of the process, again. They can connect with the online community using social networking software. They can spur digitization efforts, particularly of local history collections. They can promote standards for metadata and digital preservation, keeping efforts like Google Books honest. They can maintain an online presence, publishing guides to the best websites, blogs, or tips gleaned online. They can archive online content, which might be lost when someone takes down their site, supporting efforts like the Internet Archive. They can provide 24/7 reference service online. They can coach people on using software, managing and producing their own content. They can promote information commons, like the Open Archives Initiative, and institutional repositories. They can support greater access to public records online, less restrictive copyright legislation (such as public domain status for orphan works), and freeing up digital rights and patent protections for products which hinder the sharing of information. They should also be championing open source software alternatives, keeping the major vendors honest.
However, much of what I've described is still theoretical. Not everyone has equal access to the Internet. If I have a DSL , T-line or a cable modem, for example, I can download an audio book file in a few minutes. If I have a dial-up connection, the same download would take several hours. Although many mobile phones are capable of browsing the Internet, service providers have been slow to permit customers to browse the web anywhere, at any time. Wireless Internet services have not been as widely deployed in urban areas as their promoters originally envisioned. For rural areas, the closest broadband option is via satellite. The fastest fiber optical networks remain out of reach for most Americans. For the poorest, dial-up and Wi-Fi are often out of reach, even at their underfunded public libraries. Not everyone has adequate mobile phone coverage, let alone landline coverage. Libraries should also be lobbying for local access networks for underserved areas. If private companies won't bring broadband to rural communities, the communities should be allowed to create their own broadband utilities. I like the idea of private enterprise, but I also think the marketplace needs some regulation. I like the idea of librarians providing mentoring and guidance in the marketplace of ideas. I like the idea of librarians being publishers. I also like the idea of librarians promoting, as well as devising applications for, new technologies. We know from history that librarians have championed technology which would help spread information. The general public, on the other hand, has the media stereotype of librarians as cranky old Luddites. Library 2.0 initiatives will help dispel this misperception. The opportunity is here for making our case.