It's dawning on me, through some reading, conversations and a recent focus group that a lot of issues we've been struggling with as day-to-day challenges really are part of the "Library 2.0" thing, part of "user-centered change" as noted by Casey and Savastinul in theie 9/1/06 LJ article. our users increasingly need our pc's. many have them at home -- but many don't. or their printer is broken or whatever. many know internet basics but run aground on some technical shoals and they come in for help -- and solace. Our newer "PC Plus" is especially popular because it takes traditional limits away. the user can download...burn a cd....scan photos...move freely among various applicatons....create and mail resumes...and so on. basic security measures still apply - but the freedom of movement is a relief for them - and for us too as we don't have to watchdog quite so much.

in a recent focus group we agreed that some of our roles are dimming but others are more important than ever -- such as our role as a community center. cyberspace can be grand and well-populated, but it's hard to share a cup of tea that way.