User 2.0 = Patron 2.0 = Librarian 2.0

My network admin husband shared this article with me about User 2.0 and dealing with them in a networking and security context. 

One section of the article really spoke to me:

User 2.0 has different expectations of their work environment.  Social and work activities are blurred, different means of communications are used.  Email is dated, IM, twitter, facebook, myspace, etc are the tools to use to communicate.  There is also an expectation/desire to use own equipment.  Own phone, own laptop, own applications.

This is true of library staff and library patrons as well.  Some libraries are not allowing staff to engage in social networking.  Some are continuing to filter access to social networking sites for patrons.

I have heard the argument that if people are allowed to answer their personal cell phone at work, there will be anarchy.  The same if staff are allowed to blog, tweet or do Facebook on work time.  Or if we allow all staff to update our websites!  Or take their own pictures and put them up on Flickr.  Or any other thing that we directors do not have firm control over.

Let me tell you, that ship has sailed.  You may think you have control over your staff accessing social networking, but you do not.  It is not something you can ever control.  So what choice are you going to make?  Are you going to try to control the uncontrollable?  Which seems madness to me.  Or are you going to draft those employees into advocating for your library via the tools they love to use?

As long as my staff are doing good work, putting in a strong effort and being advocates for our library, I have no problem with the tools they are using.  In fact, I’d love to have more of my staff using social networking and talking up our library…  But then I consider myself to be User 2.0 anyway.