The End

Or is it just the beginning?

I've enjoyed the course immensely and I have a much greater understanding of what Web 2.0 is all about. I am now much more able to help patrons deal with this new technology and I look forward to our library putting at least some of these new ideas into practise.

Even with all the advantages - part time work, a computer at home, plenty of time, and an enthusiasm for technology - I found it quite hard to sustain the pace for the whole 12 weeks.

I really admire some of my fellow bloggers who have completed the course - working full time, coping with tricky IT departments, and not having a computer at home, have made it much more of a challenge for them. Well done to everyone!

A very big thank you to the nswpln staff for the time and effort put into the running of the course. It has been much appreciated.

And now - what am I going to do with all my spare time?

Social networking

Even after my exposure to all the other things in this course, I find I still can't come to grips with social networking. Maybe it is an age thing? I just can't see the point in telling the whole world about yourself and collecting as many "friends" as possible.

I can see the point though in places like libraries getting themselves out there where the people are. I thought some of the comments on the Rotorua Library site were interesting - quite a few people expressed surprise that a library would have a presence in Bebo and they found it amusing to become a "friend". So maybe there is a whole new group of people out there that we could attract.

All my previous comments apply to "Second Life" as well. I really worry about this artificial environment becoming more real to some people than the world they actually live in. But again, if people are there, then I guess libraries need to be there too.

I can't see much of a role for our library in social networking, at least not at the present time. Who knows what the future may hold?