Slow Library Movement

Ryan Deschamps, in Other Library, reports on a talk by Mark Leggott, about the "Slow Library Movement." It seems like a healthy perspective on the Library 2.0 movement. Mark's Slow Library blog is slowly developing. In commentary, Ryan writes:

'Here are some “Let’s” thoughts that may or may not apply to the Slow Library Movement”:

• Let’s focus on realistic, local solutions and build community first.
• Let’s forget about Web 2.0 for a second, understand our customers needs and then apply or give access to resources that help them satisfy those needs.
• Let’s play.
• Let’s shun pressure to “keep up” with Ann Arbor (sorry John Blyberg), Hennepin County (sorry Glenn Peterson via Tame the Web) and etc. and apply our own strengths to come up with our own creative ideas.
• Let’s focus on what we can do right now to make the community a better place.
• Let’s notice the beauty of things right before our eyes, and let supporting that be our Return on Investment.

...“the slow library” movement is basically Library 2.0 with a different name. The difference is language. But we shouldn’t underestimate the power of language in the change process.

One of the problems with “Library 2.0″ is that it is a response to another meme in the technology field (Web 2.0). Even though many have argued that Library 2.0 is more than technology, there’s still that *.0 metaphor there implying that the heart is technology.

“Slow Library” is another translation of library 2.0, but the heart is health, sustainability and empowerment. From that start we aren’t evaluating, trying or adopting Web technologies, but transforming Web technologies into effective and sustainable information services for the people who need them.'