Web 2.0 Library 2.0 Librarian 2.0

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Web 2.0 Library 2.0 Librarian
2.0

• Presented for
• EINIRAS 9 October 2007
• by
• Ran Hock
• Online Strategies

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First --

• What is Web 2.0, really?
• Why should I care?
• Will it just go away?

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Manifestations of Web 2.0

• Wikis
• Mashups
• Blogs
• RSS
• Streaming audio/video (really Web 1.0)
• Tagging
• Instant Messaging (really Web 1.0)
• Social Networks
• Web-based software
• Widgets
• Ajax and APIs

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Web 2.0 Is

• Internet communication and productivity tools
  that are
• User-Centered
• Collaborative
• Social
• Interactive
• Content-rich
• Multi-media-rich
• De-centralized (control)

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Web 2.0 Is

• Not a fad, not a movement, not a cause
• It is simply a description of what is happening.

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Web 2.0 Also ConcernsThe Long Tail

• Chris Anderson (Wired Magazine) demand for
  high-sales items, such as the best-selling books,
  is far exceeded by the total demand for lower
  popularity items.
• Web 2.0 allows that long tail to be effectively
  addressed as never before.
• Libraries have usually had a long tail of
  clients (infrequent and non-users) and stock

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Fairly Obvious Web 2.0 Opportunities in the
Library

• IM interaction between librarians and users
• Personalized OPAC/ILS interface, with suggested
  readings (automatic), sharing, bookmarks, user
  ratings, user recommendations, discussions, etc.
• Taggable databases, content, (including OPACs)
• Mashups of multiple databases and media
• Interactive, media-rich tutorials
• Bibliographic instruction broadened to
  information tools instruction

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Fairly Obvious Web 2.0 Opportunities in the
Library

• E-content
• Library blogs, RSS feeds, wikis
• Librarian/user wikis
• Organization of Web 2.0 manifestations (wikis,
  blogs, mashups, etc.)
• Re-birth of bibliographies dynamic,
  user-centered, user-generated, user-edited.

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Fairly Obvious Web 2.0 Opportunities in the
Library

• Extension of the librarys role of a meeting
  place Content-rich virtual spaces
• More interactive library websites

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What It Means for Librarians

• Web 2.0 For Librarians The Librarian as User
• Web 2.0 For Library Users

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What It Means for Librarians

• Web 2.0 is only a threat if we (librarians and
  other information workers) ignore and dont
  become a part of it.
• Are we to be seen as up-to-date, savvy, and
  innovative?
• The 2.0 part may be a fad, but the essence is
  not.

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Librarian 2.0

• Web 2.0 brings up issues we should be addressing
  anyway
• How user-centered are we, how user-centered do
  we want to be, how user-centered should we be.
• How collaborative do we want to be, can we be,
  should we be?
• The librarian as facilitator
• Web 2.0 (Library 2.0) provides a reason to
  re-examine library services!

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The Interesting Intersection of Librarianship and
Web 2.0

• User-centered - We like to think so
• Collaborative - Emphatically
• Social - Most of us
• Interactive - basically
• Content-rich - Emphatically
• Facing Decentralization of Authority/Control
  Yes

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Doing It

• Can we?
• Should we?
• Do we want to?

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Probably the Most Important Point of All

• A library can become a Web 2.0 Library at
  virtually no cost, no risk.
• If it is successful, it can indeed take time
• It can be done in pieces
• There is no long-term commitment Throw out or
  change what doesnt work, with no embarrassment

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Challenges

• Understanding the technologies
• Understanding our younger and our more
  progressive users
• Separating fads from substance
• Accepting and participating in change but not
  change for changes sake

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Important Question

• Providing Web 2.0 for Library / Library users
  (esp. for blogs, wikis, tagging, etc.)
• Will they use it and participate (do they care
  and have the time)?
• If it provides relevant, timely answers they
  will come

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The Long Tail of Users

• The new 80-20 rule
• 2.0 tools and approaches are a means of getting
  to the long tail, reaching new and
  under-utilizing users
• Blogs, RSS and wikis can address general and
  niche user groups.

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If You Decide to Web 2.0-ize the Library

• Its easy if you have a little time and a
  little encouragement.
• New skills required are minimal its getting
  easier by the day
• Some resources for getting started painlessly and
  quickly are at onstrat.com/web2

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The Collaboration Side

• As librarians and information professionals, we
  pride ourselves on collaboration and sharing
• Web 2.0 collaboration extends not just to users
  but to others in organizations (e.g., IT people,
  archivists) and to vendors.
• Vendors want (or should want) to be Web
  2.0-friendly.
• You dont need to know AJAX, but it may be
  helpful to know someone who does.

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Library 2.0 Here and There

• Is it catching on more quickly in the US and
  Canada?
• If so, why?

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Theories on That

• Americans are used to and dont mind embarrassing
  themselves, are more susceptible to fads.
• Americans are more boastful, evangelical, and
  public, while our cousins are more reserved,
  traditional, and private
• Simply an epidemiological issue
• Intrapreneurship and going beyond the job
  description is encouraged in libraries

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Summary

• There is little reason not to do it
• There are lots of reasons to do it
• It is valuable to users and to us as professionals

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Ran HockOnline StrategiesVienna, VA,
USACompany site www.onstrat.comBooks site
www.extremesearcher.com001.703.242.6078ran_at_onstr
at.com