Week 6
I watched the video on tagging. I then tried to view the tutorial on Del.icio.us, but unfortunately I could not get it to work. I did explore Del.icio.us using the HCPL account. I looked at Us.ef.ul as well as "The wildly successful del.icio.us users". I explored several options one being Quamut-the go to how to. I had a very positive experience and found it practical and easy to use.
I was a bit leary of something called delicious - but I can see that it can be a great resource and save a lot of time.

In terms of my thoughts on Library 2.0

Having originally worked at HCPL from 1987-1997, I returned in late 2008 to something very familiar, yet completely different. I think the changes are for the better. At our branch our circulation figures are significantly higher, always a good thing. I see basic changes in the way our patrons use the library. It's a lot freer in the library, people bring in food and drink and think nothing of it. Ten years ago that was unheard of. Most of our "hard core" users do their search process from the comfort of their home or office, they place holds and use the databases. I think the regular users actually spend less time in the library now then before. I think our patrons would really appreciate a Drive-up window, check in check out from the comfort of your car, imagine!
This does not mean the library is empty however, the building is more populated than before, but with customers that probably would never have used a library in the past. We have patrons on every public access computer pretty much from opening to closing. They play video games, surf the internet, access their email accounts,look for jobs, watch movies, you name it. If they do check out material, it is usually DVDs.
Reference has changed as well. In the old days from 3 pm until closing we were inundated with students, needing hands on help from how to use Readers Guide to retrieving magazines. Searching through the stacks for answers to science fair projects questions, Native Americans, and explorers to name a few. We still provide reference service and we still have those same assisgnments, but now most of the students have searched our databases as well as the internet and only come in as a last resort. Now we more often field questions on "How can a print off the computer?", "How can I check my email?".
The library has always had a place in the community, but I think it has an ever greater role now. That was really obvious after Hurricane Ike last fall. We were filled every day with people needing the lifeline of the internet to settle insurance claims, stay in touch with friends and family via email, contact FEMA. They were here from opening to closing contending with no air conditioning and only partial light. What a great use of tax dollars. Hopefully citizens will continue to see the value libraries can have on their lives and continue to support us.