Week #1 Lesson #2
What are Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 and Why Should We Care?
The world is embracing Web 2.0. Mainstream media is writing about it, politicians are using it, kids love it, news agencies are using it... But what is it and what does it have to do with libraries? This week we will take a look at some examples of Web 2.0 to see how this new media is being used to inform, communicate, provide richness and enjoyment to its users.
- Watch videos listed under "Why Should We Care?" in the Discovery Resources below.
- Read the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 definitions in the Discovery Resources below.
- Read this post on Michael Stephen's Tame the Web blog titled "Defining Library 2.0: Is it More than Technology?" Michael invited a few highly respected, forward thinking bibliobloggers to weigh in on the topic. Library 2.0 extends beyond technology.
- Briefly visit the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 examples listed in the Discovery Resources below.
- In the next lesson you will create your own blog to post your thoughts and ideas about this course. Since you don't have a blog yet, please stop by or e-mail Vicky or Sue S. sometime during the week with your questions, thoughts, comments, and feedback about this week's lessons.
Discovery Resources:
Why Should We Care?
- Pay Attention video (approximately 7.5 minutes - no speakers or headphone required) – This presentation was created in an effort to motivate teachers to more effectively use technology in their teaching. Much of this video can be applied to libraries if you replace school/teacher/student/teach with library/librarian/patron/provide information.
- Who's Watching Your Space? video (approximately 3 minutes - speakers or headphones required). This is a 3-minute version of the most recent OCLC Symposium at ALA Midwinter 2007. It contains many relevant sound bites.
Web 2.0 Examples
Politics
- John Edwards is using online social media to communicate with potential voters.
- Joe Biden started a website to allow the user to compare presidential candidates’ points of view on issues by watching youtube videos side by side.
Entertainment
- The writers of Grey's Anatomy use a blog to write about their thoughts on each episode. As of 5/9/07, the writer's blog post from 5/4/07 discussing the most recent episode of the show had 1,227 comments from viewers about their feelings regarding that episode. Take a look at the blog to see information flowing from the writers to the viewers (the blog post), then the viewers to the writers (the comments).
- Barnes and Noble has some great Meet the Writers podcasts and videos. Look around and see what is available.
Continuing Education
- Quick and Dirty Tips for Doing Things Better offers podcasts on grammar, law, money, and more.
News
- National Public Radio offers podcasts in a wide range of topics, including news.
- NBC News has a blog which "aims to provide a narrative and a window into the editorial process of the Nightly News."
Library 2.0 Examples
- Many libraries are using Meebo to provide reference services online. This means that patrons can be anywhere on the Internet and instant message the reference department to request information.
- The Ann Arbor Public Library has a virtual library branch on myspace.
- The Burbank Public Library created a video titled Burbank Reads (approximately 1 minute - speakers or headphone required) to promote a new reading program.
- Hennepin County Public Library encourages patrons to comment on materials in the catalog. They also encourage patrons to create book lists to share with others on their website
Web 2.0 Definition
From wikipedia:
Web 2.0, a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2004, refers to a perceived second-generation of Web based communities and hosted services — such as social networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — that facilitate collaboration and sharing between users. O'Reilly Media titled a series of conferences around the phrase, and it has since become widely adopted.
You can read the Wikipedia's full Web 2.0 Definition, but it is fairly long, boring, and technical.
From Infosys Web 2.0 blog:
"It would help if there was a concise definition of Web 2.0 that everyone could agree on. Sadly, there isn’t. The expression was coined by Dale Dougherty to refer to the second generation of the web. Nowadays, however it is an umbrella term used to describe everything from social apps, blogs, wikis, AJAX, RSS to mash-ups.
"So what is Web 2.0? To me at its core Web 2.0 is a participatory web. Users are no longer at the mercy of web channel operators to create web sites that someone thinks that they should have. Rather they decide the content they want, their participation level and in doing so also add value back into the web."
Our Thoughts on a Web 2.0 Definition
We've found definitions for Web 2.0 scattered all over the Internet. None of the ones we've found are easily understandable and none of them describe the all the aspects of Web 2.0 that we feel are important. Web 2.0 sites provide the user the ability to do any of the following:
- create and share their own content (blog, podcast, video...)
- label (tag) information to organize information
- collaborate with others (online word processing, wiki...)
- have a two way conversation (comments in response to blogs, videos...)
- connect with others who have similar interests (Myspace, Librarything, Delicious...)
Buzzwords associated with Web 2.0 include:
- collaborative
- social networking
- sharing
- communicating
- participatory
- interactive
As you proceed through the lessons in this course, you will see the difference between Web 1.0 websites and Web 2.0 websites.
Library 2.0 Definition
From Wikipedia:
"The term "Library 2.0" was coined by Michael Casey on his blog LibraryCrunch as a direct spin-off of the terms Business 2.0 and Web 2.0. Casey suggested that libraries, especially public libraries, are at a crossroads where many of the elements of Web 2.0 have applicable value within the library community, both in technology-driven services and in non-technology based services. In particular, he described the need for libraries to adopt a strategy for constant change while promoting a participatory role for library users.
"With Library 2.0, library services are frequently evaluated and updated to meet the changing needs of library users. Library 2.0 also calls for libraries to encourage user participation and feedback in the development and maintaining of library services. The active and empowered library user is a significant component of Library 2.0.
"With information and ideas flowing in both directions – from the library to the user and from the user to the library – library services have the ability to evolve and improve on a constant and rapid basis. The user is participant, co-creator, builder and consultant – whether the product is virtual or physical.
"Proponents of this concept expect that ultimately the Library 2.0 model for service will replace traditional, one-directional service offerings that have characterized libraries for centuries."