LibraryTechtonics

Yesterday I had a wonderful 40-minute conversation with Andrea Thorpe with the New Hampshire Library Association. She had contacted me through my friend, colleague, and grad school mate Steve Butzel (Steve, what’s that other blog URL? I can’t find it…) about doing some continuing education workshops on Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 with a special focus on rural libraries (a sort of how to and how to cope for libraries that, indeed, have dial-up, a $100 book budget, and 10 *volunteer* staff). I’ll be working with Andrea and Jessamyn West (and possibly a third librarian).

So we’re talking, and I did the quickest redux of Twitter ever, then talked about the gap in cultural understanding between librarians and social software natives, then got on my issues with what is termed “continuing education” in librarianship but doesn’t really do much, and so on. I apologized for sounding so crazy excited to be talking to a librarian who wanted to put together a program on this stuff, because it’s important, and in order to get a move on simply asked other people who would know stuff instead of just continuing to sit on it because she wasn’t sure how, *plus* being so interested in learning about Web 2.0. While she said there was nothing to apologize for, I still wondered out loud, “I guess this means I should just write more.”

The “but” here can be partially explained by a comment that Rochelle Hartman made in the recent March 2007 American Libraries article “Mattering in the Blogosphere” :

“At this point, I think that the biblioblogosphere is a little insular and echo-y, and is heavily weighted toward promoting technology in libraries. I would love to see more blogs that deal with old-school library practices, such as readers’ advisory. I’d also like to see more critical writing — if something is great, tell me why! If you disagree with something, give me your well-crafted arguments. If someone disagrees with you, don’t take it personally, be gracious and start a discussion.”

I think once it started to feel too insular, like I was losing the other interests in my life because I was so focused on keeping up with librarian blogs, I started to pull back. For a time, I also felt like it was becoming cliquish (I still kinda feel like it is), which doesn’t sit well with me, because I’m pretty equal opportunity. I’m also way more likely to want to create original content instead of getting on the topic flavor or web link of the day, and when I was starting to see all too many ripples of the same link, topic, or story, with just an “I agree” post and a link flooding my Bloglines account, I took an even bigger step back, without really noticing.

Taking a step back means I don’t really know what anyone else is writing, so I have no idea if someone else has written about it already, and said what I said (or want to say). However, stepping back consequences are also a blessing, allowing me remain just outside the echo, with a little more space to think and have my own ideas. That, and the influence of the non-librarians I’ve been hanging with lately (especially online) has given me a more progressive approach to and awareness of many things. I like that.

I’ve also received feedback that I seem to wait and post long write-ups, which also end up being really good, so I thank readers for the kudos. However, having a usability background, knowing that the trend towards small-snippette reading is growing (see: Twitter, Facebook status, text messaging, etc.), and constantly being reminded by Chris Brogan that short is beautiful, I’m trying to get on the front loaded side of blogging, which might actually get be back to a better clip of blogging pace.

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