Thing 2

Most of my library patrons are in their twenties, but we also have a large number of nontraditional students. While I think it's important that academic libraries keep current with 2.0 technologies to match the information-seeking strategies used by young college students, it's also important to keep the traditional, non-trendy methods in play. Some patrons are so uncomfortable with computers and the web that they would miss out of what we have to offer if it were accessible only via an internet connection.

We service a number of online students who do not come to our physical campus. Adding 2.0 technology, such as videocasts or podcasts of tutorials and workshops, will allow our distance students to receive the same library instruction as our campus students receive, albeit in a different format. We currently have our PDF handouts to teach students how to use databases, how to cite sources, etc. However, many students would rather be shown or told how to use the resources than to have to read yet another set of directions. In this way, I feel that 2.0 technologies can help librarians better meet the diverse learning preferences of patrons.