A foolish thing

I have decided to write a book, about Library 2.0, in Norwegian. This will be my No. 1 foolish thing of 2006. I know that it is foolish, but since I have had more fun and learnt more from the foolish stuff I have attempted in my life than all my sensible activities combined, this does not scare me much.

The background for this foolishness is something like this:

1. I feel there is a need for a book about Library 2.0, mainly to reach all the librarians who don´t read blogs, know what RSS is and who do not encounter the Web 2.0 in their everyday lives. All these librarians are not opposed to the Library 2.0 ideas, but they have not encountered the concept of Library 2.0 in a format that they are familiar with, and made relevant to their everyday working life. They need a chance to digest these ideas and make up their own mind with a minimum of knowledge about the background of Library 2.0.

2. My employer have given me R&D time to write this book! 50% of april and 10% of the rest of the year.

3. I want to attempt to write a book. I have taken part in the editing and writing of chapters in a book earlier. The norwegian Handbook in children´s library work (2003) where I wrote a chapter about Generation N. (From the book Growing up digital). It was great fun, really frustrating and a wonderful experience when the whole thing was done and published.
4. I want to write a book in the Library 2.0 spirit. I will write the book itself in Norwegian, but most of what I think and explore will appear in this blog in "Beta-format". There will therefore be ample opportunity for anybody who wants to comment, contribute or critizise to do so in this blog. I have high hopes for this book to be a collective endeavour and will share the credit with everybody who contributes.

5. I want to try out the web 2.0 tools and how they will contribute to writing this book. I will write most of the book in Writely, use del.icio.us for my bookmarks, use Library Thing to have an overview of the books I use, and so on.

6. I just had this great title I wanted to use! Library 2.0 – Hope or Hype?

Filed under: Blogging, Books, Library 2.0, Norway

RFID, books and Library 2.0 – The missing link?

One thing I have missed in the Library 2.0 discussion is the link between the physical library and the digital dimension. Yes, we use our OPAC to show what items we have, and Casey Bissons WordPress OPAC shows a possible future for the OPAC, but the actual link between the physical book and the catalog record is not a very strong one. Now I wonder if RFID might not be the missing link.

Consider the following points:
1. In the future most consumer goods will have RFID tags.

2. Consumers will want to have information about the goods and some smart guy starts a database with consumer information. Just by "bipping" a RFID tag a person gets information about the item she is considering purchasing. She can herself choose which database she wants to get the information about the item from.
3. The demand for RFID readers with net capability increases and rapidly every PDA and mobile phone will have one.

4. Consumers will start writing reviews on all types of goods, canned food, sneakers, baby-toys etc. and build consumer networks, exactly like we see on Amazon and other Web 2.0 instances right now.

What are some of the implications of these points?

1. RFID readers integrated into everyday computing will give people access to information about an item without inputting information manually.

2. As libraries are increasing the use of RFID as identifiers in books this gives us some possible opportunities.

3. Identifying and getting information about an physical item in the library will be extremely easy for the average user. (today you usually go from virtual reference to the physical item, not the other way)
4. By allowing comments in the catalog and letting users with RFID readers comment directly from their PDAs and mobile phones our databases becomes far more valuable to our communities.

5. Harvesting comments from other libraries can give a really interesting insight into an item as part of the "library experience".

6. The library will of course lend out RFID capable PDAs to those who does not have them.

This is a pretty far out idea, and completely dependent on the proliferation of RFID readers into common devices, but not, do I feel, impossible. And it is a possible solution to the problem of linking data and physical item. And that link is, in my opinion, vital to the future of libraries.

 

Update March 27 – NOKIA have developed mobile phones with RFID readers for the Duch health service provider Allevo to use in home based services. The RFID chip in a home will give a care-giver access to information relevant to the person beeing served without carrying the information, or filling out forms.  

Filed under: Books, OPAC, RFID

Library 2.0 and books

Yesterday I enjoyed a great discussion about Library 2.0 that was recorded by Talis and will be published as a podcast later. But one thing really struck me during the discussion. When I mentioned that I thought books where a really important part of Library 2.0, there was several groans around the table. Not surprising, since the discussion on Library 2.0 usually centres around users and electronic services and books may be seen as the anchor that we drag with us as we move into the brave new world of Library 2.0.
To me the possible success of Library 2.0 as a concept lies in a widespread acceptance by library workers in all types of libraries, and to achieve that the people discussing Library 2.0 has to acknowledge that libraries are also about books. When you enter any library in the world today, even the new fantastic public library in Seattle, what do you see? Books! The OCLC perceptions of libraries and information resources (chapter 4. Libraries – a “universal” brand? PDF) shows us how central to the image of the library books are. We cannot throw this image to the side and talk only about e-resources and services. Books are here for the long run and if Library 2.0 is to have any meaning to the average librarian, it has to address books and how Library 2.0 can enhance and improve our real-time, physical-world services.
How can the Library 2.0 thinking influence book circulation? One thing that I think needs to be adressed is the involvement of the library user in all facets of book handeling in libraries, from selection (I believe this is where we have a great opportunity to really engage our users), cataloging (tagging, user comments) and in displaying, reccomending (one tip I read the other day, let there be space on bookmarks for comments that can be passed on to the next reader). What if every book has a space for physical comments? (Maybe a new use for the old pockets that used to be glued to the back of library books?) There must be tons of things that can be done to improve how we collect, distribute and promote books in libraries, and I believe that some of the underlying ideas in Library 2.0 can be of use in this process.

Filed under: Books, Library 2.0