Thing #15 Web and Library 2.0

The concept of Library 2.0 brings up some interesting thoughts. First of all, coming from a marketing background, I have always thought that libraries need to be consumer-oriented, just as a business must be focused on its customers. Having catalogs where customers can give feedback on books, giving customers the power to interact with librarians, to initiate book discussions, and to be an active participant in library service, is very much in line with the "marketing concept" that all marketing students learn. However, I am also concerned that having all of this information available at the flick of your finger will make libraries and librarians as we know them now obsolete. From a children's librarian perspective, though, the type of programming that is only available in person in the form of storytime will still be the best way to introduce young children to language and literacy.