#23 the end

The end is here, but really for me at least it is the beginning. I have thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience and can see so many opportunities where we can implement web 2.0 in to our library. It is not about implementing new technology or new services just for the sake of it, but to reach out to our patrons in alternative ways then just expecting them to walk through the doors of our libraries all the time. As with all technologies in libraries balance is really important. The reality is that a lot of our patrons are not interested in this technology and don't want to learn about it, so we cannot make a complete changover to web 2.0, but there are certainly a lot of existing patrons who are interested and will use some of these technologies and by implementing them we will attract new patrons as well. To me it is about the whole picture, and using web 2.0 to enhance what we already do, and to do some outreach to those poor souls who aren't already regular library users.
Thank you very much to the State Library of Victoria for organising this program and to the Yarra Plenty staff for all of their time consuming work in making the program a success. We were only able to fit 40 staff from our library service into this program, so I am hoping to organise for the rest to do the program at a later date as I think it is very worthwhile.