Reflecting on the meaning of Library 2.0 I tend to think of it as a new model of library service that takes advantage of the technologies of Web 2.0 to create a service that is more relevant to our customers and which encourages greater customer participation/involvement in the library.
Looking at the OCLC website I agree with Rick Anderson that libraries have not always been good at embracing change/technology and that as we no longer have a monopoly on the information marketplace we need to make sure that we take advantage of new technologies and make ourselves relevant to our customers.
On a similar wavelength is George Bishop who talks about how their small rural school library service needs faculty and students to beocme dependent on the library's resources. He says that "In doing this the library increases visibility and relevance. Every satisfied “customer” potentially becomes an advocate for the library." This idea is also central to what public libraries should be aiming for.
Although libraries need to embrace new technology Michael Stephens emphasises that it is also important not to introduce technology just for the sake of it - it needs to improve library services and be something that users want/need. He also points out another problem in existing library services - that traditionally there are long project plans/timelines. As technology changes quickly there needs to good and quick decisions made.
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