Channel Country: Web 2.0 technologies in libraries

Abstract

There is no set definition for Web 2.0 technologies, but they share a number of characteristics. They are social, interactive, participatory, free or near free. They involve sharing, and innovative reuse of existing content. They aim for seamlessness – the wherever, whenever, that people increasingly want. They can be used on different devices – Web browsers, PDAs, mobile phones. The 2.0 in Web 2.0 is really about two-way, since if anything defines Web 2.0, it is the two-way nature of all communication. I will talk about how my library is using Web 2.0 technologies, such as weblogs to keep our visitors updated and to hear their comments, wikis to develop inetractive bodies of shared knowledge, RSS feeds to syndicate our news, and podcasts to deliver training. Web 2.0 offers libraries the opportunity to use the Web as a platform for services, including innovative services still in the testing stage. While Web 2.0 may be disruptive to ‘business as usual’, the possibilities it offers for getting closer to users and to adopt a culture of continuous improvement based on their feedback, cannot be ignored.