[Web4lib] Skills for Library 2.0 Leaders

[Pons, Lisa (ponslm)]

I agree wholeheartedly with Andrew's commenst. There are many
technologies out there that can be deployed, but if you don't know how
to turn patron needs into useful applications, it won't matter.

I often hear staff saying "how can we use a wiki(or RSS, or
podcasting)"...but this always seems backwards to me. We should think
about how we can make our online services more useful, and then from
there decide what technology would be best for that purpose.

Lisa Pons-Haitz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hankinson
> Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 11:02 AM
> To: web4lib
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Skills for Library 2.0 Leaders
> 
> Maybe it's just personal bias, but the singlemost important 
> technical skill I think a 'Web 2.0' person should have is an 
> understanding of usability, user interface design, 
> information visualization and 'humane interfaces.'
> 
> Coding and technical skills are necessary, but technologies 
> such as Ruby-on-Rails or Django are coming along that lower 
> that barrier, making coding large, dynamic applications easier.
> 
> Web 2.0, in my mind, is about removing the technological 
> barriers of access to everyone participating on the web, not 
> just the people who know 'the languages.'  (Languages can 
> include HTML and CSS, but also unnatural constructs such as 
> searching with Boolean operators.)
> 
> Until we make our catalogues, websites, databases and 
> resources a pleasure to use, it doesn't matter how 
> technically brilliant they are
> - people still won't use them.
> 
> Andrew
> 
> On 4/30/07, Greb, Jennifer <jgreb at tulsalibrary.org> wrote:
> > Hi, All,
> >
> > I'm curious to know what you all (the experts) think are essential 
> > skills for librarians who might be coordinating "Library 2.0" 
> > technology in their libraries.  I think that the ability to present 
> > trainings, build teams, make plans, etc, are essential, but I'm 
> > especially interested in knowing about the technical skills 
> needed.  
> > Does one just need to know how to use RSS, wikis, blogs, and so on, 
> > and contract with vendors or others to make it work with 
> the library 
> > website, or do you think such a staff person needs to know 
> ColdFusion, 
> > PHP, and other very technical skills?
> >
> >
> >
> > On a secondary note, what job titles have you heard of that would 
> > describe such a position?  I've heard Internet Librarian, Virtual 
> > Branch Manager, and various others...
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks so much!
> >
> >
> >
> > Jennifer
> >
> >
> >
> > Jennifer Greb, Coordinator
> >
> > Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Service
> >
> > Tulsa City County Library
> >
> > 918.596.7958
> >
> > jgreb at tulsalibrary.org
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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