Stephen Abram's
session on Day 2 of SLA in Seattle, "Reality 2.0 - Transforming ourselves and our Associations"
offered the most thought provoking ideas - definitely the highlight of
my experience at this conference. Here's a flavour of what I thought were key points that really gave me food for thought:
(1) What's wrong with Google and Wikipedia? - It's okay for librarians to refer to Google or Wikipedia. Britannica has 4% error; Wikipedia has 4% error, plus tens of thousands of more entries. It's not wrong to start with Wikipedia & Google, but it is wrong when we stop there.
(2) Don't dread change - This is perhaps the whiniest generation this century. The generation that dealt with two world wars and a depression did find learning new tools like refrigerators, televisions, radios, and typewriters. And they survived. Why can't we? Is it so hard to learn to use a wiki?
(3) Focus! - We need to focus on the social rather than the technology. Wikis, blogs, and podcasts will come and go. But connecting with users won't. We must not use technology just for the sake of catching up. There has to be a reason to use them.
(4) Don't Be Anonymous - Do we give our taxes to a nameless accountant? Our teeth to a nameless dentist? Heart surgeon who has no title? If these professions don't, then why are information professionals hiding behind their screens. Go online! Use social networking as your tools to reach out to users!
(5) Millennials - This is perhaps the 1st generation in human history that its younger generation teaches its previous generation. However, though there is much to learn from youths about technology, there is also much need to mentor and train for this profession to prosper and flourish.
(6) Change is to come! - Expect the world to be even more connected than it already has. With HDTV, that means more cables are freed up for telecommunications. Google's endgame is to provide wireless accesss through electricity. There're already laser keyboards where you can type on any surface. The world is changing. So must information professionals.
(7) Build paths, not barriers - When there are pathlines created by pedestrians, libraries commonly erect fences to prevent walking. Why not create a path where one exists already so that the library becomes more accessible? Librarians must go to the user, not the other way around. If patrons are using Facebook, then librarians need to use that as a channel for communication.
Stephen's power point presentation is here as well for your viewing pleasure.
Dear Mr. Abram,
We are indeed happy to know that you are coming to New Delhi to preside over the International Conference of Asian Special Libraries (ICoASL 2008) on "Shaping the Future of Special Libraries" being organized by SLA - Asian Chapter from 26-28, November 2008.
DELNET [www.delnet.nic.in ] networks about 1400 libraries in South Asia. We request a well-known specialist every year to deliver the DELNET Annual Lecture. We would be indeed obliged if you would kindly deliver the lecture this year on a theme of your choice in the field of IT at the India Internatiional Centre in New Delhi as per your convenience. I had spoken to Mr. S. K. Jain and Dr. P. R. Goswami and they wanted me to write directly to you as they would welcome it.
I look forward to hearing from you,
H K Kaul
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Dr. H. K. Kaul
Director
DELNET - Developing Library Network
Jawaharlal Nehru Unive3rsity Campus
Nelson Mandela Marg
Vasant Kunj
New Delhi 110070
Phone: 91-11-24671111
Mobile: 91-09891016667
Fax: 91-11-24671212
Posted by: Dr. H. K. Kaul, Director, DELNET | 07 October 2008 at 06:50 AM