This document discusses Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries. It begins by defining Web 2.0 as the next generation of the internet that allows for two-way communication rather than just static websites. Examples of Web 2.0 tools include social networking sites, photo sharing, wikis, and podcasts. For libraries, Web 2.0 allows for more interactive collections and services focused on information sharing rather than just access. Challenges include resistance to change, funding, and copyright issues. A social media policy is recommended to guide appropriate use of these new technologies.

1. Web 2.0 and the Library
Agnes Namaganda
0772367275
agnama@mulib.mak.ac.ug or
namaganda.agnes@gmail.com

2. Outline
• Introduction
• What is Web 2.0?
• Examples of Web 2.0
• Implications to libraries
• The Challenge: Managing Web
2.0 in libraries
• Way forward

3. Introduction
 In addressing the point of Web 2.0 we
are admitting that the Internet has a
impact on our roles as librarians
 Question: In what ways is the
Internet used or impacting our
work as Librarians?
 For us to brainstorm

4. Web 2.0 and the rest of the Internet
service range
 Web 2.0 (web-based) implies there is Web
1.0 (requires downloading software)
 What is the difference?
 Is there a future beyond the Web 2.0 or is
it at the apex?

5. Technological Advances

6. Traditional Storage

7. Modern storage

8. More,

9. What is Web 2.0
• We can simply define it as a generation of
the Internet. (It is just a fancy word
coined by Tim O’reilly in 2004)
• At this point it was agreed that the Web
(Internet) as it had been known had been
changed from a genre of static websites
for individuals and companies to display
what they want to a new communication
formality

10. Web 2.0 Tools
 Web 2.0 tools are web-enabled services that
allow persons and institutions to;
o construct a public or semi-public profile within a
bounded system,
o articulate a list of other users with whom they
share a connection, and
o view and traverse their list of connections and
those made by others within the system.

11. Components of Web 2.0 tools
• Web based (You need internet connection)
• Ability to define a list of other users with whom
they share a connection
• Ability to traverse a list of connections made by
others within the system
• Information is shared in a system not only by the
people or institutions that own the websites
• Web 2.0 is not facebook

12. Examples of Web 2.0 tools
• Micro blogging for personal diaries
• Photo sharing sites Flickr, photobucket
• Podcasting and video-casting software applications
• Professional Networking sites such as Mendeley and LinkedIn
• Really Simple syndication also known as RSS feeds
• Social bookmarking (User tagging) such as delicious
• Social networking sites (SNS) such as MySpace, Facebook,
Friendster, LinkedIn
• Synchronous messaging (also known as instant messaging (IM)
such as Google talk, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger, and
• Wikis for collaborative works
We can choose from these for illustration.

13. Implications for Librarians and
Information workers
 Ask ourselves the following questions
◦ Who am I professionally
◦ What brand do I enjoy personally
◦ What brand does my library enjoy in the
market (professional or institutional)
 We have to rid our selves of the image of
information workers of a big table and shelves
only

14. Benefits of Web 2.0
 Thesevary ranging on the Web 2.0 tool being
adopted.
◦ In the first instance is the opportunity for
faster and unlimited real-time
communication with amongst the staff of
the library and clients.
◦ Another critical merit is the platform to
provide timely news for the whole records
or information unit clientele.

15. Benefits (Cont. ……)
• Staff get the opportunity to interact with library
users beyond the normal working hours of the
day in any time zones. (even on the privacy of
your phone)
• Web 2.0 also provides a seamless platform for
persons to collaborate over projects during their
course of study. Through applications such as
web programs such as wiki spaces, Google
docs

16. Benefits (Cont. …)
 Social media are also very invaluable to libraries
in mobilisation of different stakeholders to
pursue a given cause.
 Enables media sharing without one moving
physically.
 More so, both sets of organisations use social
media to improve their image and service point.

17. Challenges of Managing Web 2.0
 Resistance to change owing to human nature. However, this may
be minimized by holding sensitization seminars to staff to
familiarize them with the benefits of these developments.
 Lack of ‘political’ support from the management of the University.
This may be due to the fact that implementing social software
requires funding and yet the benefits may not be very obvious to
a conservative manager. However, through sensitization efforts,
this support can be won over.
 Another challenge is the inadequate funding for the
implementation of social software applications. Whereas some of
the applications can be implemented with simple Internet .

18. Consequences
 Inability to actively embrace Social software will limit
access and usage of library collections of the future.
Today’s physical space is inelastic to accommodate new
collections and yet countless electronic resources are
produced at faster rates. These exist in a myriad of forms
from texts, to videos and audio resources. Such resources
are most likely to dominate the library collections of the
future. It is only with Social software that these can be
harnessed lest academic demise.
 Failure to attract users especially the young people. Most of the
Web 2.0 technologies in the world today have gained popularity
because of their ability to attract the young people.

19. Other Challenges anticipated include;
 Copyright limitations and infringement with some to the
resources that will be available especially in electronic
forms.
 Inadequate skills of some of the staff and users in
embracing the social software applications.
 Lack of steady supply of electricity to maintain the
availability of servers.
 Misuse of social software for personal use as against
professional academic performance.
 Lack of a synchronized editorial governance structure
especially with blogs and collaborative works.

20. Why a Social media policy?
• Offers a fundamental guideline in the use of social
media by the company executives.
• Provides guidelines on the use of the company symbols
in their personal networks
• The policy also places responsibility on who is to offer an
official message on behalf of the library using social
media
• The policy provides guidelines on the use of the library’s
network resources such bandwidth to access personal
social networks. For example it could provide the time
accessible for staff to use social media.

21. Benefits
• Useful in providing guidance to staff on how to engage
clients in case of disputes and confrontation over a
social media platform.
• Provides guidelines on how to deal with confidential
information. Under ideal circumstances, this is normally
to prevent library staff from divulging library secrets
over social networks.
• Provides invaluable guidelines on punitive measures
for staff who do not comply with the professionalism
and behavioral traits desired over a social networks.

22. Aspects of the Web 2.0 policy?
 Below are some of the proposed elements to be included in the
social media policy of the academy library.
• Definition of what is considered Social media
• Purpose of the policy
• Code of conduct over corporate social media
• Code of conduct over personal social media
• Acceptable behaviour of library Users over social media
• Responsibility areas and productivity measures over social
media
• Security of corporate social media
• Editorial guidelines regarding blogs and collaborative works
• Punitive measures in case of breach by Library Users and staff.
• Enforcement of the policy

23. Applicability
 Through platforms such as Facebook or Twitter groups
librarians can send current notices to Users which they
can access even on their smart phone handsets
◦ Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) and
◦ Current Awareness Services to library clientele)
 Online Public Access Catalogues enable libraries to
provide information about their holdings to all current and
potential patrons of the library at any time of the day.
 Delivering Library instruction online (Online Tutorials)

24. Applicability cont’d
 Social software also provides a seamless platform for
students to collaborate over projects during their course
of study. Through applications such as web programs
such as wiki spaces, students can contribute and modify
content using simplified markup languages to joint
projects
 Web 2.0 applications such as podcasts and video casts
a new dimension to user education by availing such
drills in an audio and video platform without having the
lecturer to physically moving to the lecture. Even when
they are stranded, they can ask for clarification through
synchronous communication.

25. Applicability cont’d
 Technologies such as blogs are the best informal communication
channel to extract latent feedback information from the users to
enhance the quality of academic experience
 LibraryThing enables users, thousands of them potentially, to tag
and recommend books to one another simply by viewing one
another's collections (collection development).
 libraries are creating RSS feeds for users to subscribe to, including
updates on new items in a collection, new services, and new
content in subscription databases. They are also republishing
content on their sites.

26. Conclusion
 The use of these Web 2.0 technologies and
applications, will constitute a meaningful and substantive
change in the history of libraries. The library's collection
will change, becoming more interactive and fully
accessible. The library's services will change, focusing
more on the facilitation of information transfer and
information literacy rather than providing controlled
access to it
 Accumulating new social software services as the
opportunities arise may in the end be impractical, and
may present intractable difficulties in terms of workload,
security, authentication and intellectual property
management.

27. Way forward?
Question:
 Why should your employers continue
extending Internet connectivity to
your Office?
 What value are you adding using the
Internet in your organisation
(particularly in your unit)?
 Social Media Policy?

28. References
1. Greenhow, C. (2011). Online social networks and learning. ON
THE HORIZON, 19(1), 4-12.
2. Halverson, E. R. (2011). Do social networking technologies have
a place in formal learning environments? ON THE HORIZON,
19(1), 62-67.
3. Han, Z., & Liu, Y. Q. (2010). Web 2.0 applications in top Chinese
university libraries. Library Hi Tech, 28(1), 41-62.
4. Harinarayana, N. S., & Raju, N. V. (2010). Web 2.0 features in
university library web sites. The Electronic Library, 28(1), 69-88.
5. Harris C. S. (2010). Libraries (and Your Staff) in a Transliterate,
Technology Fluent World. Tennessee: University of Tennessee
6. Hoppe, M. (2011). The enormous significance of new and
expanding Bas. ON THE HORIZON, 19(2), 134-139.

29. The End
Thank You!