Andrew Pace – Gotta Love the Guy

In his latest column, he writes:

“Despite the lack of buzz on the vendor floor, there were some buzzwords that vendors and libraries could both latch onto and apply to their markets. ‘Library 2.0′ made the rounds as an extension of last year’s “Web 2.0.” Put simply, the 2.0 moniker denotes a next generation of web technology. Here are a few simplistic 2.0 juxtapositions (for which I will probably incur the wrath of technology mavens): Britannica Online is Web 1.0, Wikipedia is 2.0; Mapquest is 1.0, the new interactive Google and Yahoo maps are 2.0. More than just new applications, Web 2.0 connotes a platform that improves with usage and personal interaction. For instance, taxonomies are very 1.0; folksonomies—the individual tagging and creation of metadata—is tr�s 2.0.”

“Many librarians have branded the Web 2.0 concept as Library 2.0. As with most technology, libraries don’t embrace something until they can find a use for it. A few years ago, you would have thought that libraries had invented online chat for all the hype that virtual reference created. Some have gone so far as to suggest that anything new in libraries is Library 2.0 and everything old is anti-2.0. I bristle at this “if you ain’t fer it yer agin’ it” mentality.”

I’ve recently been formally introduced to Andrew Pace. He’s a wonderful speaker and a thought leader in our profession. And, best of all, he can be controversial (and not just controversial for controversials sake, he really believes what he writes – he’s no phony). He tells you what he thinks without having to wonder whether if he has offended you. A straight shooter who likes confrontation. Just the type of colleague that I hope to enjoy many more discussions with. Honest, open, and transparent.