Watson and Harper (2006) discuss two technologies that have now commonly been used in libraries in Australia but were at the time of publication still somewhat uncommon. Based on then available experience - and there is no indication from more recent literature that this experience is now outdated - they provide six (actually seven) tips on how other librarians may successfully create online communites using blogs and wikis.
In this they note, based on "Recent Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 discussions" that these two particular technologies are suitable technologies for the task, without any consideration of other technologies. There is a reference to their more detailed research (Watson & Harper, n.d.), but this research does not appear to address this comparative aspect of different technologies. The reader is left with guidance on how to successfully create online communities using blogs and wikis, but is not provided with the reasons why these two of the many technologies should be selected over other technologies.
The first strength of the article is that although it is about technology in libraries, it is not about the technology itself, it is about issues involved in implimenting the technology, for which they list six tips but should have listed a seventh, the main tip is - "If there is going to be a library 2.0, the driving force will surely be Librarian 2.0" It is the librarian who impliments the tips who is key to the whole process - an issue touched on in Kajewski (2007). Librarian 2.0 is the most important issue.
The second strength of the article that continues on from the first is in Tip # 2, "Control 'technolust'". Too many technology articles aimed at librarians only highlight how useful technology is in libraries and how libraries having the technologies discussed in the articles makes the library more connected, more responsive, better able to service their users, without discussing drawbacks, and without discussing whether or not a specific technology truely is beneficial to the needs of the users.
The first major weakness of the article, apart from not discussing the why of implimenting these two technologies, is that it contains some general principles without sufficent details to guide the Librarian 2.0. For example, in Tip # 3 there is a need for "an agreed upon, honest library voice". Watson and Harper do not make it clear as to how this agreed upon library voice will be arrived at, and if agreed upon, how it would be also honest as each contributor would be compelled to "speak" in a way that is not naturally their own.
The second major weakness is that there are no tips to cover a major aspect of implimenting new technologies - the users. The six listed tips are under the heading of "Developing a successful communication tool", a tool whose raison d'être is to communicate. If the communication process ignores the users it is likely to not be as successful as a communication process that considers the users. Many users, despite common references to the internet generation and tech-savy teenagers, are not effective in their use of ICTs. An additional tip would need to address at least two aspects of the users - the technologies should be available in the easiest to use formats possible, and the users need to be trained in the effective use of the technologies.
Overall Watson & Harper is useful as a broad guide, a begining point of issues to consider in implimenting technologies in libraries.
References
Kajewski, M. (2007). Emerging technologies changing our service delivey models. The Electronic library, 25(4), 420-429.
Watson, K., & Harper, C. (n.d.). LibraryBlogsWikis: A wiki that looks at how blogs and wikis are being used in Australian libraries. Retrieved September 1, 2009, from http://www.seedwiki.com/libraryblogswikis/ .
Watson, K., & Harper, C. (2006). Using blogs and wikis to communicate with library clients. inCite, 12. Retrieved September 1, 2009, from http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/incite/2006/12/print.html?ID=138 .
No comments:
Post a Comment