Musings on Thing 2

This one was kind of interesting. I've done a fair amount of reading on the whole Web/Library 2.0 concept, but I'm not sure I get what's so very revolutionary about it--especially as it relates to libraries and how they relate to technology and to the patron. Librarians have historically been early adopters of many new technologies, as they determined that whatever it was could positively impact the services they offered to their patrons/users/customers (if only the Library 2.0 geeks could come up with a new name for all those people we attempt to serve, they would have done us all a valuable service). I understand about the convergence of user-based technologies necessitating a change in our thinking about how we relate to them and them to us, but so did adopting the telephone.
I agree that we as a profession need to make sure that we understand the new technologies and how they can help us, and more importantly how they can and are being used by our patrons. I also think that, as I said in a meeting just this morning, the amount we don't know is always growing. So it's important for us to listen to what people like Stephen Abrams and Micheal Stephens are talking about, and to play with these technologies to figure out what they are, but we do need to be judicious in our adoption of them--something that, given the financial constraints under which librarians have always operated, we have also always done. But even if we don't adopt them into our service models, it's important that we know what they are, and what they're used for, since our patrons are asking for our help while they use them. For example, I'm not sure that it's necessary for all of us to have a presence in Second Life, but we need to know what "having a presence in Second Life" means, because our patrons know and do. On the other hand, how is that different from knowing that we can use AllData to find out how to replace a serpentine belt versus actually going into our garage at home and replacing one. On the other other hand, we do need to serve our patrons where and when they are, so at some point, we're probably going to have to expand our presence in whatever online environment is then in use. I'm just not convinced that there's a need yet that takes precedence over the real needs of the people coming into my buildings. Maybe when I'm done with the 23 things, I'll be convinced--or maybe I'll just go on to the other 23,ooo things I also need to know.
Well, now that I've totally depressed myself once again, on to Thing 3.