Here Comes Everybody
Here's a video of Clay Shirky's speech at the Web 2.0 Expo 2008. His recently published book, Here Comes Everybody, looks at the culture of participation that is growing around Web 2.0.
I know that most public libraries in NSW are thinking about using Web 2.0 tools to reach out to users. One of the questions many people have is why we should be doing it if our community doesn't currently use those tools? Indeed, we are struggling to get much in the way of comments on our blog from the members of our community at my place of work. Comments aren't really on fire on the RISG blogs either (c'mon people, share!). But it's only a matter of time. Clay Shirky puts that argument in an eloquent and entertaining way.
I know that most public libraries in NSW are thinking about using Web 2.0 tools to reach out to users. One of the questions many people have is why we should be doing it if our community doesn't currently use those tools? Indeed, we are struggling to get much in the way of comments on our blog from the members of our community at my place of work. Comments aren't really on fire on the RISG blogs either (c'mon people, share!). But it's only a matter of time. Clay Shirky puts that argument in an eloquent and entertaining way.
Labels: participation, web 2.0
posted by Martin at
12:59 PM
7 Comments:
It all falls back on funding in the public library sector.When you have IT managers telling a certain staff member to pull out a RAM chip from their work PC and install it into one of the council chambers PC because they have no money to even buy a RAM Chip..how do you expect any change to occur in poorly funded libraries out west! NSW State Library need to educate the General Managers of councils to see any change arise especially in non metropolitan areas.
By
Anonymous, At
June 1, 2008 8:09 PM
I had added a comment previously about your lecture but it wasn't approved.I did say I had enjoyed it.
By
Anonymous, At
June 1, 2008 8:12 PM
Clay Shirky entertains us with interesting ideas on interaction with Web 2.0.
Microsoft with their future platform would dispose the use of a mouse and have touch screen interface instead. Perhaps television in years to come would have us interact in programs such as "Dora the explorer" by touching the screen unlike the girl in Clay's speech who ran behind the TV looking for the mouse cord.
By
Anonymous, At
June 1, 2008 9:04 PM
Re: public library funding-
Most web 2.0 tools don't have explicit costs, or if they do the costs are negligible. You can get a pro account on Flickr for less than the cost of a hardback fiction book. The cost comes in terms of staff time to engage in the community that uses those tools, and as such I see that as a strategic decision of individual libraries. The time has to come from somewhere and that may be at the expense of something else the library is currently doing. So, Web 2.0 may not be right for all libraries yet.
But, if no one is watching how these tools develop how will your library know if you could be saving time or money on an existing process or service? Eg. how do you currently let your users know about your services? Maybe a free blog will do a better job for less money.
Of greater concern to me is when I hear about IT departments blocking Web 2.0 tools and the cost/availability of Internet connectivity and bandwidth (especially for regional libraries). Both of these things stifle a library's ability to strategically prepare for it's own future.
By
Martin, At
June 2, 2008 3:44 PM
Re: unapproved comment-
I'm sorry your comment did not get approved. I would still like to hear what you thought. Perhaps you could try again. As far as I'm aware comments aren't moderated based on the views expressed, as long as they aren't offensive. If you can't get it through on the RISG blog you're welcome to add it at SlideShare.
By
Martin, At
June 2, 2008 4:00 PM
It seems to me that the library world is made up of those who love it and want to make the library their career and those for whom it is just a job. It is difficult to make those staff embrace anything new as they see it as just one more thing they need to worry about. Together with the IT blockages Web 2.0 all becomes very difficult- when it shouldn't be hard at all. It is where the world is heading- we must jump on the band wagon or be left behind!
By
Superchicken 77, At
July 4, 2008 9:13 AM
Clay Shirky's comment, "media that's targeted at you but doesn't include you may not be worth sitting still for", captures it perfectly. We talk about 'engaging with our clients' but are we really truly doing that - or have we disconnected the mouse??
By
CatyJ, At
July 9, 2008 8:39 AM
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