Friday, March 5, 2010

12 Differences

A re-mix from thewikiman  on Doug Johnson' s original post Yesterday's libraries, tomorrows libraries - 12 differences. The use of Prezi in interpreting the post is very effective. This serves as a great self-reflection tool.


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4 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

I really like Prezi, although wikiman's application kind of made me seasick when I put it on autoplay. I like Doug Johnson's list. It spells out the differences between yesterday's libraries and tomorrow's very effectively. I found wikiman's list (comparing yesterday's librarian with tomorrow's) awfully negative and judgemental. Librarians should be evolving to meet tomorrow's needs, but it doesn't mean that what they did in the past was bad - they were providing appropriate services for the needs of that time. I don't think yesterday necessarily = bad.

March 5, 2010 at 8:44 AM  
Blogger Robin said...

Good point, Kay-lo. The thing I liked about Ned Potter's (wikiman) version was it really does hold up a stark mirror (and I agree-it is a little seasick on auto-play). My fear is that a lot of library professionals are still in denial about the degree of change that has already occurred. This is a wake up call - and yes, it may sound a little harsh. My thought was more that both presentations were being generous in their reference to libraries/librarians of the future. To me these should be descriptions of libraries/librarians today.
I appreciate your taking the time to post an opinion. Very appreciated. Regards, R.

March 5, 2010 at 9:02 AM  
Blogger Ned Potter said...

I realise I am WAY late commenting on this, but thought I'd do so anyway as I found the existing comments really interesting...

Kay-lo, I think you're right in that I was overly negative. (Although only 3 of them could be interpreted that way - the other five were not good or bad, just assessments as to how things are or were.) I have trouble with not being overly damning of past librarians in my enthusiasm for future ones, but as I conceded in the comments on my own blog post of this Prezi, I need to work on that... my biggest defence, though, is that this was just an exercise in comparison really - I wasn't laying out a manifesto or really trying to make a judgement on our forebears' efforts. Plus I didn't really mean to imply that librarians of the past = bad, more that, as you say, what they did was appropriate for the time and isn't really so much now.

Robin, that's a good point about the descriptions being about librarians of today rather than tomorrow! But we're still in the transition phase between the two sets of states.

And finally, sorry about the sea-sickness - I had no idea this was going to get so much attention or I'd've made it a little easier on the eye/stomach!

March 31, 2010 at 10:59 AM  
Blogger Robin said...

Thanks for taking the time to respond, Ned. You clearly articulated a very hot topic. It certainly made me think. Liked your last post, too. Fun and effective video. It wasn't as controversial and I think even the most reticent library professional would agree with your points. Enjoy your holiday!

March 31, 2010 at 11:35 AM  

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