* Restrictions Apply

To let everyone else in on what I’m talking about, Alan Gray and I had a discussion the other day over lunch about the nature of L2. I was trying to make the point that L2 is not all about technology, that a library can be Library 2.0 and unplugged, if it so chose. Alan feels that it is all about technology. The snark portion of the disagreement went something like this:

Me: “If the power goes out, we can still be 2.0.”

Alan: “That’s because everyone’s laptops and cell phones have batteries.”

Smartass.

He’s correct, of course, but so am I. We’re both approaching the same center from different vectors. As it turns out, this is a relatively unexplored finer point on the mercurial nature of Library 2.0. The topic was briefly broached by several people at one point, but never fully expounded. But it’s an important one in that it gives us a frame of reference in which to consider the types of services we are (or are not) offering in our libraries. It’s vital to understand why Library 2.0 is meaningful to us and if it is only because we’re in the midst of an intense preoccupation with its foundational technologies then that’s not terribly healthy. If, on the other hand, the 2.0 hive has cemented anything of true value into our collective ideology, then we have an obligation to apply it in our work. I believe it has.

Back in March, 2006, I put this image together and I have to confess that after posting it I thought I should have added “People” as one if its principle elements. But now I’m glad I didn’t isolate the human component in its own category. People are infused through all of these realms in too many ways to count–and not necessarily those that might immediately spring to mind. You may remember that during that time, the term “Library 2.0″ itself was under scrutiny, as well as the uncertain complexion of the very thing it sought to describe. In hind-sight, it appears that the people I’m talking about here were, by debating the existence of Library 2.0, becoming some of its initial architects. One of the paradoxes of the 2.0 world is that it is essentially a socialist system based on wholesale, acute individualism. The many unique voices talking about Library 2.0 have served to expand its meaning and sharpen its borders.

Interestingly, a mere one year later, most of us who talk about this stuff are talking about it as though it’s been around forever. Of course, it hasn’t and the debate really never resolved gracefully. Those that accepted it to begin with simply continue to, and many who were skeptical have come on-board with the anticipation that precedes a long, slow gulp of barium. Last week, Walt Crawford mentioned that he might revisit his well-known Library 2.0 Cites & Insights issue. I hope he does because this discussion is far from over and I’m very interested to hear his take on things these days. When he last took me to task, he pointed out that I was suggesting that ‘anything different is”Library 2.0″‘. Admittedly, that stung a little at the time because it was, in essence, what I had said and it was a flimsy assertion. But that’s blogging for ya.

So now I’m asserting that there would be no Library 2.0 without the internet. More specifically, that the internet was a prerequisite for what we now agree to call Library 2.0. Like an awkward adolescent, however, L2 will inevitably experiment with independence from its high-tech bloodline. Ultimately, if the power goes out and the laptop batteries die, we will be left with a profoundly different library. Certainly the one we hope to build here in Darien will reflect a set of attitudes that are less constrained by convention and more motivated by collaboration, empowerment, and hospitality. The first two of those virtues clearly come from Web 2.0, while the third reflects commitment to what many call Business 2.0.

We can transform our libraries in a number of ways, as evidenced by Leslie Burger’s transformation track at ALA this past June. But what I’m interested in here is how the internet has changed our profession, and what its legacy will be. There will come a day when libraries and networked technology are so closely associated that the very term “library” will be synonymous with “online” just as it is with “books”. As Jessamyn is quoted in the recent NYT article, librarianship is becoming “a techie profession.” For newcomers to the industry, that train has left the station–it is a techie profession. In the near future, new librarians will need to be technologists. At the very least, they’ll need to be able to participate in an information-centric community that requires all the disparate parts of the library to come together in a seamless fashion. The very best librarians will be able to cultivate those systems. We’re germinating an information ecosystem that is just now begining to sprout and it’s the next generation of information professionals who are going to bear witness to the full bloom. They’re also going to inherit what we do right now and play steward to it well into their professional lives.

And at the heart of it all resides the Network–an albatross to some, a blessing to others. The Network is four little octets, a new domain, a new human experience. And we’re dumping shit into it at a phenomenal rate without any thought as to where it will end up, how useful it is, how accurate it is. Typical human behavior. Yet its value cannot be overstated. The internet has a penchant for compartmentalizing its minutia in ways that make it seem sentient. There are gems to be found.

There is a lot of sludge too and that is overwhelming to the uninitiated. I’m reminded of Wordsworth’s Prelude where he describes the serendipity of finding a rowboat that he climbs in to and paddles toward the looming cliffs. As he approaches, a dark peak rises up before him and blocks out the stars causing a darkness that fills him with dread. For many, accepting this new world is akin to his journey back from that darkness because it is so different: it’s simultaneously huge, incorporeal, and iconoclastic. Libraries are the first stars to reappear in that night sky. We’ll help guide them through that wilderness. That is what Library 2.0 does–with our technology, our spaces, and with everything we offer. Without Library 2.0 there is only dead reckoning for too many people.

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Sean has put together, what I would consider, one of the best library IT departments in the country and is the type of guy who I’d want on-board, handling business. Can’t wait to see the rest…

[update 3/9/2007]
They’ve also made these:

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[/update]

No? Okay, sorry.

In case you're wondering, no, Rapunzel does not have a fifth cat named "E".

Never mind that. In addition to all the techies that read this blog, there are a fair number of librarians on the other side of the "digital divide" who, in some cases, are trying desperately to reach across and learn more about technology--specifically, technology in libraries. I applaud them because by the very act of reading library blogs, they are doing what many library professionals do not: keeping up. Of course, it takes time to stay abreast of the daily machinations in the biblioblogosphere. I've been slacking this past week or so (well, not slacking, but doing my part to get a new branch up and running by March 20th--forgive me if I've let my duties here wane) and I just finished slogging through 300+ hits in my reader which were from the past day and a half alone. But it's worth it.
I try to maintain a balance on my blog between highly technical entries and open, accessible discussion because I think it's important that non-techies feel welcome and comfortable in technical dialogue. More importantly, I'd like to help those individuals gain a voice when it comes to contributing ideas. The same should be said for the librarians we work with.
One of the persistent problems facing the 21st century library is the culture gap between IT and librarians. Of course, the issue is even more granular than that when you start looking at the differences between the veteran, tenured staff and the newly minted MLSs--many of whom have already undergone the digital immersion but do not yet have a strong voice within their organizations. This culture gap is, in-and-of-itself, not necessarily a problem. Differing ideas and viewpoints make for interesting and enriching dialogue. The problem is that, in most cases, there is no dialogue. That problem has been weighing on my mind of late and I thought that it might be a good idea to brain-dump some ways of spanning the gulf. In an ideal world, these are the things I'd keep in mind as I approached the "other side".

Get the dialogue started. In order for anything to happen, someone needs to make the first move and approach the other side. This can be as easy as an informal email or chatting in the hallway. In fact, the biggest obstacle may just be the imaginary barriers that have grown up over time. Good fences make good neighbors, right? Not in this case. What's important is that a dialogue exists that goes beyond the obligatory machinations of daily library routine. Someone needs to talk to someone and get the discussion started. It might as well be you.

Acknowledge the dichotomy. Once you get a dialogue started, it's important that both sides recognize that there is a problem--or at least a gulf. Hopefully, both sides will agree that there is a disconnect and have a desire to make the situation better. Once that happens, you'll have some common ground to work with. It's at this point in the discussion where you might provide some concrete examples of what might be accomplished through a strong multilateral approach.

Make a peace offering. If things have been particularly tense, come to the table with something tangible the other side will benefit from. Not a buy off, but maybe an offer of time or a concession. This may not be necessary, but in some cases, the circumstances may merit coming off a little something.

Make the other party comfortable. Spend some time in advance deciding on language that will not frighten off the other side. Make sure they know that you value their opinions. Keep discussions informal but on-track. The last thing you want to do argue or create a rift, so make sure the other side knows your goal is to bring everyone together. Technology, to the uninitiated, can hold a frightening mystique. A librarian once referred to a wifi antenna as "that zappy thing"--language that betrays the trepidation (if not outright fear) this one individual has when it comes to tech.

Show them you are interested. People at your library may not know that you are interested in what they do. Of course, you genuinely need to be interested, or you're in need of some introspection. The goal here is to build common ground on which discussion can grow. Tell them specifically what parts of their job you find interesting. Ask questions, take notes, learn. Be honest. Let them know that you are always looking for ways to incorporate technology in the library in ways that are creative, useful and friendly.

Ask them how you can help. Get a sense from them what is bothering them the most. It's a good idea to ask them outright whether there is anything you or your department can do to make their life easier. If there is, try to get it done quickly and cheerfully. There's a good chance that something small and easy-to-fix has been bothering them for months. By saying, "Yah, we can fix that today", you might just illuminate, for both sides, the fact that these types of dialogues do, indeed, have a purpose. I've run across many non-techies who have developed magnificently complex processes in order to do very simple tasks. One person cried once I showed her how to do in one step what she had been doing in fifteen for years.

Show them how they can help. Let them know that what they do matters and show them how they can participate in new, interesting, and cutting-edge projects. Show (not tell) them how much their input and work can influence a final product. If possible, illustrate the impact they have already had. In our case, at AADL, many of the staff bloggers have no idea how excellent they make our web site simply by providing a constant stream of quality content. I'm truly proud to be working in the same organization as them, but they probably don't know it.

Invite them to learn and play. It's important that staff have the opportunity to get their hands on new technology as it comes out. The idea of letting staff play with technology has been proposed a number of times by a number of people and I agree. Getting people comfortable and excited about technology at the same time is a win-win prospect that will only benefit everyone.

Cross-train. Especially at the entry-level. If we start cross-training our staff when they come in the door, they'll be inherently more comfortable outside their zone of expertise. I've often been stopped by a patron and asked a reference question. I'm certainly no reference librarian, but I made a point of trying to help them if no one else was around. The unknown becomes a lot less frightening once you know even just a little about it. This is especially true with technology, which tends to have a very steep learning curve.

Make plans together. Come up with both blue-sky and concrete plans. Come up with ways that two departments can work together to accomplish something new and exciting. Something that will make all departments involved feel a sense of accomplishment. Non-techies often feel intimidated about asking their techie counterparts if something is feasible. As a techie, you may be able to suggest a solution they didn't even think possible.

Meet regularly. Agree to have formal or informal discussions on an ongoing basis. This is important. Consistent communication can and will solve most of the problems we find in any organization. It's important that each department have maintain their own identity and purpose, but there is nothing wrong with those departments letting each other know what they're up to. This happens somewhat when department heads meet, but there could be some benefit to bringing in other departmental members--maybe rotating them through these meetings so that familiarity is build, not just at the supervisory level. Use social software to interact and keep everyone up-to-date on projects.

I seriously need to go practice what I preach here, and I'm going to make a point of doing that. Of course, every library has its own idiosyncratic internal dynamics. That's what make any organization unique. I've worked in enough for-profit and non-profit organizations to know that many of the fundamental problems faced across the board are not about money, but about people and the synthetic cataracts we paint over our collective eyes in order to insulate the walls of our comfort zones.

[tags]IT Departments, IT, Library, Librarians, Geeks, Communication, Development[/tags]