Playtime is good.
It is important to play with the tools and incorporate them thoughtfully into library services, and it is important to understand how they are changing behavior and expectations. For example, while YouTube is entertaining, it’s also changed the expectation that we see the video instantly. So, make downloadable videos available through the library. And the more one uses (facebook, flickr, blogs) the more one expects to be able to comment on what they see, so add a ‘comment’ function to your catalog. Let your patrons participate actively in your online presence. It’s radical trust, people.
I have found that blogging really forces me to give thought to something new I’ve encountered, and I intend to keep blogging about library stuff here.
Most importantly, I’m going to take a deep breath anytime I come across a new tool.
