10/12/10 Post

Maness, J. (2006). "Library 2.0 Theory: Web 2.0 and Its Implications for Libraries". Webology, 3 (2), Article 25. Available at: http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html

This article poses that Library 2.0 is evolving out of Web 2.0. They offer a new definition for Library 2.0 as such: “the application of interactive, collaborative, and multi-media web-based technologies to web-based library services and collections.” Maness states that Library 2.0 will have four main characteristics: user-based, provides multi-media experience, is socially rich, and is communally innovative. Instant messaging, blogging, and other such devices will allow users to have a more rich library experience. Libraries need to adopt these theories in order to remain relevant in the Web 2.0 era. Library 2.0 should be about finding and sharing rather than searching and access.

While I agree that Library 2.0 has definitely evolved into the modern age of libraries, I think that it needs to be recognized that a balance has to be found between Library 1.0 and Library 2.0. Many libraries have already adopted these developments and are using them to reach the younger generations more successfully. I think that these changes have been successful, but many people look to the library as an institution where they can search and access materials. Many people go into the library to find peace and quiet; it is a place where they feel safe. I think that Library 2.0 ignores the physical library, focusing only on the virtual, when the physical library is still a very important community center and refuge for many people.

Gavrilis, D., Kakali, C., and Papatheodorou, C. (2008). Enhancing Library Services with Web 2.0 Functionalities. In Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Research and Advanced Technology For Digital Libraries (Aarhus, Denmark, September 14 - 19, 2008). B. Christensen-Dalsgaard, D. Castelli, B. Ammitzbøll Jurik, and J. Lippincott, Eds. Lecture Notes In Computer Science, vol. 5173. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 148-159. Full-text available at http://www.wcl.ece.upatras.gr/publications/gavrilis/Enhancing%20Library%20Services%20with%20Web%202.0%20functionalities-rev5-chr.pdf

This article shows how people have been trying to integrate OPACs with Web2.0 functions. They have taken the classic OPAC and integrated social tag annotations, user opinions and ranks, and tag-based similarity searches. They put the regulation of the catalog almost entirely into the users' hands; letting them rate features as well as suggest how records should be listed and described within the catalog. Relevance, reliability, format, timeliness, learnability, navigation, information architecture, and aesthetics all being aspects of the OPAC that they tested and evaluated. Overall, they found that their new OPAC was a success with its new functions.

I think that this change in OPAC has been adopted by many libraries to day, DCPL being an example. They use Sirsi to connect with their users on a larger level and allow for more interaction with and among users. I do think though, that the focus on Web2.0 functionalities are great, but still forget to integrate aspects of the physical library. At the physical library, the library always makes sure to incorporate the Library2.0 aspects by providing computers and Web2.0 service, but I think that developers of Library2.0 services forget that their services need to be integrated within the physical library.

Question: How do librarians as a whole react to Library 2.0? There have been many studies on user opinions, but I would be interested to find out what librarians have to think about them in general.