I was encouraged after reading this article by Andrea Mercado, who shares her opinion that ‘librarians cannot afford to flip the modem switch off’ and that library schools need to incorporate more technology education into the program components of LIS programs. At first I started going down a bunny trail of envisioning more classes on graphic design for library newsletters, basic html coding, and Dream Weaver. When would I ever graduate??!
I definitely believe that classes like Library 2.0 are preparing the librarian up-and-comers with some valuable groundwork for innovating and investigating how Web 2.0 technology can match patron needs. While you can read the list yourself, I will point out several of Mercado’s reasons and recommendations for library schools to beef up our technology mindframe. Some of Mercado’s dream technology class list would include:
1) ‘Customer service personality with innate problem solving skills’ – In regards to technology, I’ll admit I am not the greatest at explaining how a program, software application, or interactive platform works to other people. I end up explaining how I envision myself carrying out the very same functions I’m trying to explain – I inadvertently leave out important steps. I get how it works, but I can be horrible at my explanations! Occasionally, I’ll leave people even more confused…..I just end up having to call the developer to explain it better. I could use some tools & skills for explaining technology to other people.
2) ’Human Computer Interaction’ – the idea behind this is that there are basic elements of user-centered design, user behavior, and usability methods that we can employ to make technology easier to use. This really resonates with me from my days working on product development for an awards catalog website, in which we spent time testing the usability of new functions and capabilities based on focus groups intended to see how user-friendly it was. It’s ingrained in my brain that you should always test to see how user friendly a website, application or interface is before you roll it out because what’s the use of it if nobody really gets how to use it?
3) ‘Marketing Online’ – I also like to think that my background in marketing is really going to help me when I’m working in a library. I get energized with how are we to promote and launch new services.
While I feel somewhat smarter with the Web 2.0 things I’m learning and playing around with, I’ve begun to realize that I’d be even more smarter if I continued to add more tags on my Del.icio.us account and dabble with a PBwiki beyond the end of class.
