[Web4lib] Discussions on Web4Lib and the state of of the list.

[Meredith Farkas]

While I am definitely a fan of the more recently-developed tools for sharing
knowledge, I still see Web4Lib and other lists of this sort to be useful. I
often get e-mails from people asking me for advice on wikis. Sometimes I
feel comfortable answering the question, but, more often than not, I'd
rather put in my 2 cents and also see them get advice from other people who
know as much (if not more) than I do about wikis. So frequently, I respond,
"here are my thoughts on this, but I would strongly suggest that you also
ask this question on a listserv like Web4Lib. There are a lot of people
using these tools in libraries, and you'd probably benefit from their
diverse knowledge and expertise."

Blogs are great, but they're very ego-centric. You're only getting one
person's perspective on things. Wikis are great, but people often don't add
to them unless they feel compelled to do so (because someone asked them a
question, because it's a time-limited project, because they just did
something cool they want people to know about, etc.). While there are new
models emerging to collect and share knowledge, I still see email lists and
sites like AskMetafilter as the best ways of "querying the hive" on a
specific topic. I often see people getting great advice on this list; advice
that is probably useful to many more people than the one who asked the
question. While I hate seeing lists degenerate occasionally into arguments
that have little to do with the topic, it's the price we pay to be a part of
a community of people that is usually more than willing to offer advice when
you need it. Like any community (physical or virtual), you take the bad with
the good.

Cheers,
Meredith

On Dec 21, 2007 11:32 AM, Kathryn Silberger <Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu>
wrote:

> Bill:
>
> I haven't been following the discussion about the scholarships closely  --
> end of semester hubhub had priority on my attention.  I rarely post to
> Web4Lib, but I do find it to be a useful discussion for keeping abreast of
> new technologies out there and how they are being used in some libraries.
>
> You said you were concerned about the list's loss of focus.  The beauty of
> these electronic discussion groups is that you can delete any posts you
> find uninteresting or annoying.  Unless the discussion is as off-topic as
> baseball or politics, or trying to sell things, I, for one, have no
> problem
> with slightly off-topic library discussions.   Personally, I'd rather have
> people express unpopular opinions, so that they can be effectively
> refuted,
> rather than worrying about offensive expressions.  An occassional reality
> check is not a bad thing.  Your reference to testosterone is almost enough
> to make me read the archive.
>
> Don't despair -- I think the list is still healthy and making a
> contribution to librarianship.
>
> Katy
>
> Kathryn K. Silberger
> Automation Resources Librarian
> James A. Cannavino Library
> Marist College
> 3399 North Road
> Poughkeepsie, NY  12601
> Kathryn.Silberger at marist.edu
> (845) 575-3000 x.2419
>
>
>
>             "Bill Drew"
>             <dreww at tc3.edu>
>             Sent by:                                                   To
>             web4lib-bounces at w         "K.G. Schneider"
>             ebjunction.org            <kgs at bluehighways.com>,
>                                       <web4lib at webjunction.org>
>                                                                        cc
>             12/19/2007 01:45
>             PM                                                    Subject
>                                       [Web4lib] Discussions on Web4Lib
>                                       and the state of of the list.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am now ashamed that I did not speak up the last couple of days in
> support of Karen and Dorothea and in support of the scholarships being
> offered at Code4lib.  I am amazed at the testosterone flowing here the
> last few days.  I am ashamed of the reactions voiced by many librarians
> of the male sex on this forum.  As one of the first subscribers to
> Web4Lib,  I have seen it evolve from the open, loose, and always
> informative discussion to something I am wondering is of any more value.
>  It would be a shame to see it die.  Maybe it is suffering from a bit of
> old age and loss of focus.
>
> Bill Drew
> dreww at tc3.edu
>
> Wilfred (Bill) Drew
> Interim Library Director
> Librarian, Systems and Tech Services
> Tompkins Cortland Community College  (TC3) Library:
> http://www.tc3.edu/library/
> Dryden, N.Y. 13053-0139
> E-mail: dreww at tc3.edu
> Phone: 607-844-8222 ext.4406
> AOL Instant Messenger:BillDrew4
> StrengthsQuest: Ideation, Input, Learner, Activator, Communication
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
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>



-- 
Meredith Gorran Farkas
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/