Now, a year later, what I’m noticing is that blogs, wikis, rss etc are no longer unknown as “concepts” – people have heard about them in conference papers etc – but they still feel uncomfortable with actually using the tools themselves and that’s where the training need is….our local ALIA group has been running regular hands-on workshops on Web 2.0 tools this year and we have had to run multiple repeat sessions on blogs and wikis. The attendees now know what a blog or wiki is – they are at the next stage of wanting to try it out and get some practical experience!!

Wouldn’t it be great if the Trade Exhibition space at these conferences could incorporate a “tech playspace” or “tech cafe” (with the wireless access etc that Kathryn suggests) that could act as a focal point for demos, discussion, exchange of ideas and experimentation? Add some comfy chairs and good coffee, & you’d have to drag delegates away!

Given that most of the presenters referred to their presentaions, when they worked on them, as “subversion” in their twitter stream, I suspect this is a bit of a coup…and a fine one at that. Maybe it’s the start of a trend at some library conferences where people say “you don’t want a session like this at your conference – that’s OK, we’ll do something ourselves while the crowds are here”. Better if we all work together..but still…..