Impact of Web 2.0
on Library Websites
Rachel Vacek,
Candidate for
Web Services Coordinator,
University of Houston Libraries

Overview
• What is Web 2.0?
• Smattering of 2.0 Technologies
– How they enhance content
– Examples of how they could be used to enhance
(not replace) library services
• Characteristics of Library 2.0 Websites
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Web 2.0 Concepts
• Collaboration • Radical trust
• Sharing • Personal data
• Ownership • Mashup
• Wisdom of • Web-based
crowds • Perpetual
• Personalization state of being
in beta
• Self-expression
• Transparent
• Community
• Interactive
• Participation
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From Karen G. Schneider’s Library 2.0 Cookbook
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What does this mean for library websites?
• Sharing info (content) • Helping people (services)
– create – communicate in multiple
ways, 24/7
– save
– collaborate
– syndicate
– build communities
– find
– form groups
– use
– manage processes
– re-use
– pursue common interests
– mix
and endeavors
– mash-up
– learn
– repurpose
– research
– share
– capitalize on the behavior
and knowledge of others
Source: Farkas, Meredith G. Social Software in Libraries. Medford, NJ: Information Today, 2007.
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Wikis & Blogs
Content Services
• Better organized • Wikis - organize user
research guides, develop
• Easy to manage
manuals, policies and
• Easier for user to use procedures, and build a
• Searchable wiki for committee structure
• More current for easy staff interaction
• Can be password enabled
• Can have other tools • Blogs - communicate
placed on the pages services, discuss projects,
highlight new resources
and events, highlight
deeper parts of website
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RSS
Content Services
• Notify users of • Blog/Feed for each
changes, quickly and discipline
automatically • Alert services and
• Helps users keep feeds from databases
current • OPML groups of
• Ability to share even related feeds for each
more information when topic
people are subscribed
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Social Bookmarking
Content Services
• Collecting knowledge • Add del.icio.us
together, online and in bookmark links within
one location wiki research guides
• Tags added to • Let users easily
bookmarks bookmark pages, share
with others, find similar
• Can easily be seached
links
• Lead more people back
to library
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Social Tagging
Content Services
• User-supplied • Implement tagging in
terminology used for OPAC, on research
finding things guides, other online
(folksonomy) tools
• Helps visually • Could tagging be used
represent important to enhance federated
ideas, concepts, words searching?
(as in tag clouds)
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Picture Sharing
Content
• Pictures can often convey
something more clearly than words
Services (or why use a tool like Flickr)
• To highlight new materials
• To show the faces in the library
• To highlight and promote services
• To create a presence in the site
itself
• To create an easy virtual tour for
users and staff
• To store and use images for wikis
& blogs
• To share with others what your
users are doing in the library
• To share the library's history
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Video Sharing
Content
• More dynamic,
interactive content
• Not just text on a page
• Engage users visually
and audibly
• Avoid having to
reinvent the wheel
every time
Services
• Video tutorials, guided
tours, podcasts
• Integrate videos on
website
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APIs
Mashups
• Take advantage of
developer tools from
Amazon, LibraryThing,
Google, etc.
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SMS and Instant Messaging
Content
• Users can use what they
already have and are
familiar with – chat clients
and cell phones
Services
• Chat reference
• Chat with circulation
• Could replace desk phone
with cell or smartphone to
interact easier and be more
mobile
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Characteristics of Library 2.0 Websites
• People and information are connected
• Barriers are eliminated
• Website is more open, transparent, easy to use and
contribute to
• Library services are more integrated into users’
daily lives
• Library website has a self-service feel, and is 24/7
• Familiar and new technologies are used to
enhance user experience
• Library website serves as an information guide and
trusted source
• Users can recommend, suggest, review, tag, rate –
interact with website on all levels
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Characteristics of Library 2.0 Websites
• Site is in perpetual beta (and this is okay!)
• Collective intelligence is harnessed, not blocked
• Services and content extend beyond the desktop, beyond a
single device, to cell phones, mobile devices, and whatever
else the future brings
• Users are engaged because they can create content, give
feedback, participate, and be part of a community
• Maintenance process and other aspects are automated
• A balance is struck between personalization and privacy
• Growth of site and services is viral, so grow services that
users like and use
• Users are empowered
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Thanks!
Rachel Vacek
vacekrae@gmail.com