I don't blog too prominently about my library. I've been steering this blog in more conceptual directions, while sometimes using my library as an example to illustrate my points.

But today, I think I'll come down out of the clouds. The air has been getting thin up there. In the meantime, some good things have been happening in my library. I want to review them, and see what it shows about a university library that has taken a few steps forward and is showing an undercurrent of interest for more. So much attention is paid to libraries that have launched major, ground-breaking initiatives. In the meantime, some of us are inching toward Library 2.0. This entry is for us.

There's been interest expressed among some of the readers of this blog about my proposed Action Plan for a 2.0 Library. So let's start with the plan. What's up with that? I'm pleased to report that my Dean has read it and is interested. He's starting discussions with upper management.

As an opening salvo to staff, we agreed that I should give a library-wide presentation about Library 2.0 concepts and practices. I did this last week, giving a talk that I called "Serving Our Users With Library 2.0." To my surprise, a third of our staff (40+ of 125) showed up. What was most gratifying was the demographic of the turnout - both librarians and support staff from all divisions and numerous departments across our three libraries. One bibliographer brought along two students. The Dean came. Obviously, the 2.0 buzz is out there. People want to know more.

This is what we have to build on:

Blogs. For the past year, my library has run an in-house blogging program, LIBlogs. While not many in number, our blogs have an impressive range of functions. These include reference librarian communication, branch library and departmental news, and a few topical blogs (including this one). It's now commonplace for our instruction librarians to use blogs to support their credit-bearing courses. One blog focuses on alerting users about public safety - what a great idea!

Podcasts. We've got one. Yes, exactly one. It's a start. The two individuals (a librarian and a graduate assistant) who created it gave a staff presentation a few weeks ago about their accomplishment. I was there with bells on.

Information Commons. Our first one is located in the Science Library. It's a collaborative effort of the Libraries and our campus Information Technology Services, a place "where library services and technical assistance come together in a new resource center." Soon, this service will expand to our other two libraries. I've been wondering about the use of an Information Commons as a space for promoting social scholarship. My Dean has suggested it as a venue for teaching 2.0 tools. I've recommended that we set up a podcasting studio there. But interestingly, the Commons area has developed a culture of studious quiet. So I'm not sure what we will do.

Flickr. Our department of Special Collections has set up a collection, Grenander Department's photos.

Facebook. One of our librarians has joined campus-based groups, promoted library resources and services, and shared links of interest. There might be other colleagues on there that I haven't found yet.

Wikis. Many of my colleagues are aware that I tested a MediaWiki installation during my sabbatical. They're telling me that they want to move some of their Web pages off the current server and onto a wiki. They're attracted by the content management aspect of this platform, not necessarily the collaboration. The pages in question might include some significant resource pages on our site. If some of these librarians might consider opening up these pages, or associated pages, to faculty and student input, then something really interesting might happen here. (This isn't a plan, just a hope on my part.) On another front, an instruction librarian has set up a wiki on PBwiki for her class. We should accommodate her needs here, not there. In short, we have a need for a wiki program. In fact, some of my colleagues are getting impatient - a wonderful sign! One way or the other, it will happen.

These are some of the highlights of what's going on where I work. We're making progress. It's slow, but it's happening. There are reasons to be optimistic. That's the important part.