Describing Library 2.0 isn’t as easy as it sounds. As she pointed out, if you ask five different people what it is, you will most likely get five different responses. In her own definition Meredith sees Web 1.0 as “democratized access to information”. She describes Web 2.0 as “democratized participation”. Library 2.0 is more a state of mind than anything else. She summarized some of the key concepts of Library 2.0 in the following way:
• Meeting changing user needs
• Trusting our users
• Getting rid of the culture of perfect
• Being aware of emerging technologies and the opportunities they create
• Looking outside the library work for ideas, applications and opportunities

It is one thing to be in the Library 2.0 state of mind, but it is something else to create or build Library 2.0 and Organization 2.0. Meredith shared several examples of what it takes to reach the ultimate state of Library 2.0: communicate with our patrons, become more transparent, allow user to connect around our collections online, collect knowledge to benefit everyone, build the spaces our users want, see the library as a creative technology lab, use 2.0 tools to highlight collections and be where our users are.
It was Meredith’s discussion of Organization 2.0 that really struck a chord with me. Whether you work in a library or not, creating an organizational culture that is supportive of the ideas that encompass any 2.0 concept is essential. She described the elements of building an Organization 2.0: know our users, develop a learning culture, question everything, develop a risk tolerant culture, give staff time for creative endeavors, collect knowledge internally, be transparent, good ideas come from anyone and anywhere, involve staff from all levels in planning, and nurture talent. Wow! Sounds like we all have a lot on our plate. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to move forward and make this happen! Thanks Meredith for inspiring all of us.

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