Oh yes I surely do.

Web 2.0 is an exciting place for librarians to be. The number of choices we have for hosting our 2.0 activities is amazing. And that's the problem.

Let's consider the options for keeping up with our profession. I'm beginning to see a rapidly-accelerating fragmentation in our professional scene. I'm not just talking about RSS feeds - and there are inklings of a backlash out there as colleagues talk of deleting feeds from their readers. There are so many places we need to go to get the full picture, to become fully informed, to fully participate.

In LITA alone, I now need to consult the LITA Web site, the LITA blog, and the LITA wiki. And of course, there's the LITA-L discussion list. I realize that each has a different purpose, though there is some overlap. But I can't help thinking that it's time for a mashup site that offers everything in one place. I also think the organization needs to decide what to jettison and what to keep. There are only so many eyeballs out there willing to consult so many options.

Looking more broadly, we've got the Library Success Wiki, and now there's the newly-launched libSite, a Drupal-based library site recommendation service. We can search LISZEN for the latest postings from the bibliosphere (and of course track lots and lots of RSS feeds), vote for our favorites on LISZEN Trends, participate in the Library 2.0 Ning community, tell of our goings-on on Twitter, and upload photos to Flickr for the librariesandlibrarians tag. Numerous tried and true e-mail discussion lists are still active, it not thriving.

These are a few of our choices, anyway. I've just mentioned a dozen options off the top of my head.

Yes, this is the time to experiment with new tools. Yes, some of them are worthwhile. Yes, it's wonderful to have so much choice. Yes, the marketplace of our participation will determine which will succeed and which will not. But I'm getting to the point where I hesitate to get involved in something new. I'm being judicious in my choices. I'm protecting my energy and my time. In other words, I've taken the non-bandwagon pledge. If something new looks good, I might give it a try - eventually, if it's proven itself for a while.

It's a tricky proposition, balancing opportunities and selectivity. Tolerance levels will differ. As we move ahead to offer new services to users, some of the same issues will apply. I hope we keep that in mind.