Hi, nice to meet you, I"m Librarian 2.0...

Successful web 2.0 information professionals, or Librarian 2.0 as it has become known, can be defined by particular skills, attributes and knowledge.  Whilst no one definitive list exists of what Librarian 2.0 actually is, they can be described as follows.

Librarian 2.0:

• embraces change and works actively towards making change happen in the library;

• is enthusiastic - about trying new things; about finding new ways to interact with users and forging a more personal two-way relationship between them and the library;

• is willing to constantly learn;

• can recognise that change needs to be purposeful rather than because it’s cool or hip to do so;

• endeavours to be conversant with the many available technologies which can be utilised so as to utilise them effectively and to help others use them;

• understands that libraries can’t do everything so must be selective to ensure the best possible service/experience is provided to users within the various constraints experienced by libraries;

• wants to engage users in a two-way ‘conversation’ and to collaborate rather than the old way of talking at them;

• creates opportunities for this two-way conversation and collaboration through providing ways for users to add their own content in the form of comments, tags etc where appropriate to the library’s online presence;

• is willing to experiment to find the tools which best fit the library and the services it wants to provide to users, as well as those which users want even if it means mashing tools together to achieve a particular aim;

• has a positive, can-do attitude;

• doesn't let hype get in the way of making good decisions.

 Of course this is just how I see library 2.0, others may see the role very differently, and that's fine.  Part of the beauty of librarian 2.0 is our ability to adapt and be inclusive of others, we become what our users and library need us to be.  Being a librarian is about helping others to find the information they need/want and web 2.0 is just a set of tools which help us to meet this aim in new and exciting ways.  Gone are the days where librarians sat behind a counter stamping books and shushing users.  Now we want to engage with them and enlist their help to help us be the best we can.  

To steal the slogan from the recent Australian federal election librarian 2.0 is about 'moving forward' to a brave new world, where rather than shush users we encourage them to talk to us.