Facing the Challenge of Web 2.0 as a Disruptive Technology

Phil Bradley

Internet Librarian International 2007philb@philb.com

http://www.philb.com

What’s Web 2.0 all about?

• Is it…

THIS?

Or how about?

Is it even about…

Sometimes it’s all about:

• “It can’t be done”

• “We don’t have the resources”

• “Bandwidth problems”• “Security issues”

• “Write a proposal”

• “Not your job”

• “Not enough time”

It’s also about chaos…

• “Staff complaints force red faced [company] into Facebook U-turn” Legalweek 25/05/07

• “Employees should have access to social networking websites such as Facebook during office hours” TUC BBC News 30/08/07

• Students campaigns at Facebook threats force HSBC to change plans Guardian Unlimited 30/08/07

And even more chaos

• One third of bloggers risk getting the sack by posting derogatory content about employers BBC News 24/05/07

• “Companies urged: ‘let your staff blog’” BBC

News 04/04/07

• Diplomat blog pulled after abuse BBC News 12/04/07

• Keele University threaten disciplinary action regarding Facebook content BBC News

24/05/07

So what’s actually happening?

• Change– Librarians– Other information professionals

– Technical support staff– Publishers– Companies

– Search Engine Optimizers– Managers

• Change (continued)– Staff– Press and publicity departments– Organizations– Other groups

– Social groupings– Microsoft– Google

– Etc. etc. etc….

Change is

• Scary

• A challenge

• Requires thought• Removes the safety zone

• Questions the traditional methods

• May result in us doing the wrong thing

Because…

• When you come right down to it, Web 2.0 is not about– Software– Resources– Websites– Webpages

– Silicon Valley

• It’s about …

A change of mindset

Some library based challenges

• How can I trust that these things will continue to be available?

• These things are not authoritative

• I don’t have time to learn all these things!

• Too much information out there to keep up with

• How do these things make money?

• I don’t know which ones to use – what if I get it wrong?

• I’m not allowed to do this stuff

• But it’s only in a beta version!

• My place of work doesn’t want to be associated with these things

• I’d love to use these things but they’re banned where I work

• It’s just a buzzword and a fad – no point learning it because it will go away

On the other hand…

• The ‘Just do it’ brigade

• We’re right at the edge of what’s going on

• Remember that people get scared

• Computer stuff is not inherently fascinating!

Never the twain shall meet?

• Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 isn’t about technology

• It’s about doing things better

• It’s about end users

• It’s about making your life easier

For the anti brigade

• Forget the ‘2.0’ label and consider how you can do things better

• See if there’s an application out there that can assist you with it

• Try it

For the ‘just do it’ brigade

• Forget the ‘2.0’ label and consider how you can do things better

• Use things, explore them

• Approach colleagues in the spirit of ‘have you tried?’ and don’t push it

• Accept there IS a digital divide

For the technical staff

• 2.0 resources are an opportunity to do more interesting things

• Embrace ‘how can we’ not ‘why we can’t’

• 2.0 is not a threat

• Your job should be to empower

For all the managers

• Trying things out is a good thing

• Getting things wrong isn’t necessarily a bad thing

• Professional development is crucial

• Be led by future needs, not past requirements

More for managers (because they get paid

more)

• Embrace ‘yes and’ rather than ‘no but’

• Do not let technology dictate to you

• Remind YOUR managers that it’s about change

• 2.0 can save money!

Do we need a revolution?

• No, we don’t

• Small implementations

• Change organically, embrace, don’t fight

• Be curious and play! (Play is not bad)

Ultimately…

• Pandora’s box is open

• Join or start a constructive dialogue

• Be involved with developments

• We’re about finding out about stuff!

And Finally…

• A library is a growing organism. — Shiyali Ramamrita RANGANATHAN (1892-1972)

• "Librarians must be like Krishna! And descend into the world to combat ignorance!"

Thank you!

• Website: http://www.philb.com

• Email: philb@philb.com

• Weblog: http://www.philbradley.typepad.com/