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By Jill Fenton

Following my conclusions from attending the ILI 2006 conference, namely that Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and social networking tools are here to stay, and that librarians and other information professionals need to take courage, embrace and share them to fully explore their might, I was eager and intrigued to attend the 10th ILI conference last year. 

Entitled "Translating 2.0 technologies for tangible benefits & transparency", I wanted to see and hear examples of how this technology had been used, and evolved, within the library and information environment.  Had the barriers to technological change begun to come down within our libraries?

The library of the future

The conference seminar tracks were divided into a variety of topics, including Search and Discovery, Next Generation Libraries, Information Literacy and Tangible 2.0, and by the end of the two days I felt a key theme had truly emerged from the seminars I'd attended: What and who are the library and librarians of the future?

Guy Cloutier, the opening keynote speaker, stated "Librarians are the memory of the future... they are the cog in the wheel... they are what links the past to the future".  In practical terms, Stephen Arnold described how traditional information searching is no longer the answer - everyone can do it.  Future librarians and information professionals need to provide information solutions and problem solving.  Not only should they push focused, predictive and analytical information to their clients and users, but they should investigate new solutions, for example e-discovery tools.

The theme of ‘the next generation library' was further developed in a particularly insightful and interactive session hosted by Michael Stephens, Michael Casey, Thomas Brevik and Gwenda Sippings.  The incredibly enthusiastic audience, by far the highest attendance I'd seen at any one session, passionately discussed how they envisioned the library of the future:

• The library of the future will be a 'human place' which encourages creativity and inspiration
• The library of the future will be what the local users want it to be ie geographically and socially specific
• Libraries will be where you are eg on your phone - they will have a physical and virtual presence
• Libraries will be 'green', fun and a flexible environment

I wondered, how will the library of the future appeal to the users of the future?  Should the name ‘library' be sexed-up to encourage foot-fall?  From the overwhelming response to this question, I quickly understood that the ‘contents of a library' is what is important, not its containers or its name.  Today's libraries store information in a variety of containers, be it a book or a mp3 player.  It is the individual library's responsibility to find tools, for example web 2.0 technologies, to promote its containers and content and attract new users.

The Shanachie Story, three Dutch librarians who have toured several countries, visiting libraries and interviewing librarians for best practice ideas, described some great examples of how new ‘containers' can attract a younger audience, including the library which has a dedicated area for gaming.

In addition to discussing what the library of the future may look like, thoughts around the future role of the librarian were also shared.  The idea that librarians are as much about attitude as qualifications particularly appealed to my own ‘client-focused' ideals.  They (future librarians) need to have a combination of skills: be customer focused, open to technological ideas, able to project manage, be end-user trainers, information navigators and user interface experts.  It was agreed that librarians will maintain an important, although perhaps diversified, role.

Appeal

Having attended two ILI conferences, I have come to appreciate their quite unique sense of networking and sharing.  The conference attracts a great number of international delegates, many of whom are first timers, who are all keen to hear each other's ideas and stories. 

Several people I spoke to explained how meeting their peers is one of the key benefits of attending the conference.  A few commented that, although they were perhaps not hearing a great deal about new 2.0 technologies, they were getting great value from understanding how others had implemented existing technologies and the pros and cons that they had experienced.  The feeling of excitement, collaboration and enthusiasm among the delegates I met certainly seemed genuine.

Several sponsors I spoke to also commented on the international audience that the ILI conferences attract, and that the people they'd spoken to had been extremely interested in hearing about the new technologies and products on offer.

Conclusions

So, did I see and hear examples of how Web 2.0 technologies have been implemented within the library and information environment?  I certainly heard some interesting case studies, and discussed a variety of very exciting ideas around what the library and librarian of the future should be, but I couldn't help wondering how our industry compares to others for 2.0?  As one fellow delegate commented, libraries should've been doing this stuff years ago.

Barriers may still exist when implementing change within some libraries, but the enthusiasm and eagerness shown by the delegates I met at ILI 2008, to develop and drive the libraries of the future, will be a real force to reckon with.

By Jill Fenton

Jill Fenton is the Founder and a Director of Fenton Research, a London-based research company providing high quality, tailored research and advice to help clients achieve their business goals.  She has over 13 years of professional business research experience, including research management and analyst positions at Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston Consulting Group and Oliver Wyman. Jill is a specialist researcher in the financial services sector, as well as an experienced generalist business researcher. She holds an Honours Degree in Information Management from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

Jill is currently the Chair of the City Information Group and a member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals and UKeiG. She has had several research related articles published and is a regular presenter at industry events including the annual Online Information exhibition.

FUMSI articles by Jill Fenton »

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