LIS 9763

Hello everyone,
I really appreciated the articles for this week, particularly since for me they seem to marry well with what I have learned in my co-op position for this semester. The only business type course that I have taken thus far is Managment from last semester, but it seems clear to me that the discussion about risk aversion and resistence to change is very much a managerial issue.  These issues exist within libraries and Information Managment firms, such as the one that I've been working at. The course content upto this point has pointed to many ways that web 2.0 technologies can improve libraries services and resource provision, in turn building stronger relationships with users by gaining their feedback. From a logical perspective, there is little evidence for the case that a library is better off without the use of web 2.0 technologies in some capacity. However, we are still faced with opposition to implementation.  Why is that? Fear of change. It would seem clear to me that this mentality of aversion to change is indicative of a bigger problem in libraries, that being lack of vision based on new developments in society.
I think that there are two questions that we as future librarians and information professionals need to ask ourselves: Is aversion to change, particularly in the realm of adopting new technologies, a hinderance to a library in some way; and, What can be done to combat resistance to change in the adoption of new technologies if in fact it is a problem?
In response to the first question, the articles from this week make it abundantly clear that risk aversion and aversion to change are a hinderance to libraries, and other organizations for that matter. In order to remain relevant to users or clients librarians and information professionals need to understand the technologies currently used by main stream society as well as how innovative solutions created by new technology can benefit the library by improving their contact with users. Without recognizing the benefits of web 2.0 technologies, libraries run the risk of becoming stagnant by simply recycling old ideas that have become tired and inefficient for modern users. Futhermore, it is important to recognize the popularity of web 2.0 social software in other areas of the corporate world and learn from their successes and failures as a means of directing the use of library-based tools that will benefit both staff and users.
In response to the second question, I would suggest that the best method of combating fear of change and risk is to educate staff on the many benefits of particular web 2.0 social software tools and other libraries' implementation of these tools. By providing case studies on the successes of blogs, wikis, rss feeds, folksonomies, etc. within other libraries librarians are less likely to see these technologies as a "risk," but rather an investment. I think that one of the key problems in the adoption of these technologies in libraries is that many older librarians do not know how to use them. As part of their professional development perhaps a seminar or session could be run to teach staff how to use specific web 2.0 tools. Furthermore, they should be informed of the implications of the implementation of web 2.0 social software in a library-that being that it creates corporate knowledge that is not necessarily edited or managed by staff, but through public interest. A discussion of this order would allow staff to see that the implementation of one or more social software tools will not necessarily result in an increased workload. However, it may cause them concern about the authenticity and reliability of the information that becomes available through certain library endorsed web 2.0 social software. This is where the use of similar case studies comes in handy.