David Lee King

social media | emerging trends | libraries

Basic Competencies of a 2.0 Librarian, take 2

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From the comments on my Basic Competencies of a 2.0 Librarian, I have a few more competencies to add to the list (thank you commenters!):

  • Create, edit, and upload screencasts
  • Ability to do basic HTML editing – an understanding of (X)HTML and CSS. Here, I’m not wanting “web developer” skills – but someone who has enough of an understanding of HTML to be able to do basic edits, like add in the code to a Flickr image in a blog past, and then be able to edit that code enough to align the image properly. Etc…
  • know how to pick up a new device (mp3 player, mobile phone, etc) and figure out how to use it

So – adding these to my big list (and changing the wording on my list a bit), we have:

Specific 2.0 Skills:

  • write and post to a blog
  • add photos and videos to a blog post
  • embed a widget into blogs and social networking accounts (like Myspace)
  • social network knowledge – basic understanding of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc and the ability to explain them to others
  • create, upload and edit photos, short videos, podcasts, and screencasts
  • use IM in different forms
  • use and explain rss and rss readers to others
  • send and read sms text messages
  • edit an avatar’s appearance
  • basic console gaming skills (multiple formats preferred)
  • Ability to do basic HTML editing – an understanding of (X)HTML and CSS. Here, I’m not wanting “web developer” skills – but someone who has enough of an understanding of HTML to be able to do basic edits, like add in the code to a Flickr image in a blog past, and then be able to edit that code enough to align the image properly. Etc…
  • know how to pick up a new device (mp3 player, mobile phone, etc) and figure out how to use it
  • the ability to learn the basics of a new digital service or tool within 15 minutes of fiddling around with it and be able to assess them

“Big Picture” 2.0 skills:

  • understand how everything above works in a library setting
  • understand how everything above compliments a physical, traditional library
  • And most importantly – the ability to tell the library’s story, through various media – writing, photography, audio, and video.

One commenter suggested an understanding of creative commons licensing be added to this list. I’m not adding it to my 2.0 Librarian list. Instead, i think EVERY librarian, 2.0 or not, should understand Creative Commons, just like every librarian should understand the basics of Copyright.

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Basic Competencies of a 2.0 Librarian

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Update: see my Basic Competencies of a 2.0 Librarian, Take 2 – it’s an expanded list.

Emily, at the Library Revolution blog, posted about minimum tech competencies she thinks librarians should have. Her list is certainly fine – but I share her frustrations when glancing at that list! Those are all very basic skills that some librarians still don’t have, unfortunately.

And so I started to think: what are some competencies a 2.0 librarian should have? I’m refraining from calling them tech competencies, even though they all reside on the computer – I think we need to get away from calling something a tech competency just because it’s done on the computer. Most of these skills are similar to word processing – the skill of writing isn’t a tech competency, even though you most likely use MS Word to do it these days, for example.

So – here’s David’s off-the-cuff Library 2.0 Competencies:

  • write and post to a blog
  • add photos and videos to a blog post
  • embed a widget into blogs and social networking accounts (like Myspace)
  • social network knowledge – basic understanding of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc
  • shoot, upload and edit photos
  • shoot, upload and edit short videos
  • record, edit and upload a podcast
  • use IM in different forms
  • use and explain rss and rss readers to others
  • send and read sms text messages
  • edit an avatar’s appearance
  • basic console gaming skills (multiple formats preferred)

And then, a few bonus skills that go beyond the basics (but are still essential in this new era):

  • understand how everything above can cohesively fit together
  • understand how everything above compliments a physical, traditional library
  • the ability to learn the basics of a new digital service or tool within 15 minutes of fiddling around with it
  • And most importantly – the ability to tell the library’s story, through various media – writing, photography, audio, and video.

What do you think? Would you add or remove anything from this list? I know I’m forgetting some of the non-web library 2.0 things… Let me know!

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ALA2007: RUSA Preconference: The Hyperlinked Library: Reference Services in the 2.0 World

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Michael Stephens, Keynote: The Hyperlinked Library: Reference Services in the 2.0 World

David says: other people probably took better notes – honestly, I really enjoy just sitting and listening to Michael talk – he does a great job, and it’s fun!

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introduced web and library 2.0, discussed the information revolution that’s taking place.

three things to do:

evolve – checking out laptops, camcorders, etc… welcoming buildings
let go of control – no cell phone signs as examples
be visible online

plan with your users

engage your users
– catalog search box in facebook
– comments in catalog

adopt a 2.0 philosophy

– throw out the culture of perfect
– learn from the gamers (it’s ok to make mistakes)
– discover, play and experience these new tools

Second Life reference desk – 200 questions a week

create a culture of trust
– trust users
– trust each other

Topeka Has IM

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IM in Topeka!My library has just started two things, really:

  1. IM reference! (Yippie!)
  2. Using the Meebo Me widget

We have wanted to begin IM reference for over a year at least. One of the cool things about being the Digital Branch Manager at this library is that the library as a whole is excited about new ways to reach out to customers, and doesn’t shy away from all this new-fangled technology stuff (translation=everything I do).

Our Adult Services Department actually came to me and asked if they could start IM – they even had a plan in place to use the Meebo Me widget, so they could get everything up-and-running quickly (we’re also in the process of installing Trillian on all staff computers). Basically, all I had to do was say “go for it.”

So far, the Meebo Me widget is working out well. The things we’re working through are more procedural issues, like what to do when reference staff receive a phone call and an IM question at the same time (ie., do we go into away mode or just quickly type “hold”?).

So – this should be just the tip of our Digital Branch iceberg!