Week 8, Thing 16

It was interesting to read through the Five Perspectives on Library 2.0. Rick Anderson's Away from the "Icebergs" discussion of library's "just in case collections" resonated with me. Trying to determine what resources patrons need is difficult especially when factoring what resources can be found on the web. Anderson also pointed out that libraries need to move from a "come to us" model of service to one where resources are brought to the patrons. I think it is also important to recognize if the library service population is prepared for this. In the area of Jamaica most residents still do not have access to high speed Internet service, so if they want anything other than dial-up they still do have to come to the library (or the Wi-Fi coffee shop).
I also thought Wendy Schultz's To a Temporary Place In Time . . . made some interesting points about how library service will continue to evolve and old models will be "absorbed" into the new models. One of the concerns I have with technology being used exclusively in a library collection is the problems it can encounter. Maybe this is because I have seen more than my share of power outages, but I also am concerned with the escalating cost of electronic information services. Not only the cost to purchase the service but in upgrades, and additional costs to access back issues and send articles as interlibrary loan materials as well as costs for allowing more than one concurrent users at a time. Corporations are controlling more and more of what libraries can afford to access. So I would add my own perspective to Ms. Schultz's, by stating that libraries need to not only implement online resources but also play a major role in influencing corporations to make that information affordable and accessible.