The concept of “always there, always on” is a double-edged sword. Yes, it’s great to be in contact with patrons or friends when needed. I think it’s also great to have down time to assimilate the neverending influx of information and stimuli. In other words, I like to disconnect from the world to organize my thoughts. It helps me assist people in a more coherent fashion. I can be Twitter-brief and still relevant.

There are more and more studies being conducted about the pros and cons of our “constantly on” world. I’ve had discussion with colleagues about the current crop of college undergraduates and their non-stop plugged-in life. This is the wired generation and, as such, their relationship with the world is entirely different than their predecessors. Yet, how thoughtful and in-depth are their cognitive processes? I agree that libraries must have a virtual identity because that’s where the action is. I’m leery, however, of being constantly on for anyone and everyone. Technology is fun and I’m a big gearhead at heart. But hitting the Off button is fun, too!