Practices

Become a User

• Explore, Test, Play!
• Test-drive a wide variety of technologies - not just those you think you might use in your library
• Gain insight into how users are interfacing with new Web applications and information online
• See possibilities for useful mashups within library communities.

Discuss Emerging Technology

• Start discussions in your library, in your staff meetings, at lunch with your peers
• Create forums for these discussions such as brown bags, committees, or informal learning opportunities
• Take advantage of the resources you have at your library – your colleagues
• Learn from each other

Create Courses in Emerging Technology

• Offer patrons introductory classes to Web 2.0 technologies such as Flickr, You Tube, and Library Thing
• Academic libraries can provide courses on CiteULike for students, faculty, and scholars doing research
• Public Libraries can offer patrons classes in creating wikis for family Intranets and wedding planning, shared calendar for friends, etc
• Libraries can offer emerging technology courses both live and via webcasts, screencasts, podcasts, videocasts, and within Second Life and other virtual worlds

Adopt a New Philosophy

• Offer patrons community within and beyond the library website
• Go where your users are to offer services