Web 2.0: Why do I care? (Thing 2)

When thinking of my role as a School Library Media Specialist and why Web 2.o is important to me, I have been reading up on Web 2.0 and some key words and ideas really stuck with me. Formost among them were the words of Dr. Wendy Schultz when she says that "Libraries are not merely in communities, they are communities" (http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/6.htm). We are immersed in a paradigm shift of how community is structured for our daily activities and we must adapt and adopt elements of these communities to remain a relevant. The boundaries of these communities have become dynamic and the people we serve even more so.

In an educational perspective, it is tapping into the communication tools and resources that make up the Web 2.0 world to extend learning opportunities beyond the school day. In the library, it is about extending access, resources, and connections in the language of our patrons.

I have also learned along the way that it is much more than just adding a blog to my Media Center website, it is also about leading people to using that online resource and interacting with that resource. I hope that as I continue on my own Web 2.0 journey, that I am discovering new tools as well as new connections into the online community as it continues to evolve and become more imbedded in our daily activities.