My experience with Web 2.0 has been very informative. It was such that all these words, chat, cloud computing, Flickr, tags and others were said and it had no meaning whatever to me. Now at least I know what they are and what I can use them for. They have so much application and benefit and these applications make it easier for people to communicate. Of all the applications those that I thought would be useful to the library are cloud computing, RSS, Flickr, YouTube, tagging, chat, wiki, and podcasting. Seven out of 11 is pretty good for web 2.0.
There is nothing like storage space when it comes to cloud computing, no disc, no restrictions and as long as you have a computer wherever you are your stored documents are accessible. Times were when to access a document you had to wait to either go to the office or retrieve it from a disc that you could not find. Even when you found the disc you got the message “word cannot open this document”. Being able to store documents and accessing them is a library concept. It can be used for library presentations and also easy sharing when it comes to updating wikis.
In the month that I have used RSS feed I finally found my internet browsing more productive. I have found lots of blogs that serve my interest and many topics that I would otherwise not have found by just going to my favorite web pages. In libraries there is a wealth of information that would be available to librarians when they RSS and which they can use to help patrons. I think the internet opens up better with RSS feeds.
The old cliché of a picture says a thousand words is what makes flickr very applicable in libraries. Displays would come alive in Flickr. Library tours can now be shared and events that were held can be published in photos to bring awareness and to promote other events. No need for catalogs or albums
If ever there was an easier way of classification without having to follow rules and regulations we have finally found it in Tagging. Simple everyday English that allows individuals find what they are searching for. The best part is everyone can add tags. Tagging therefore makes it rich and very current, there is no need for revised editions to accommodate changes in language usage.
Youtube and Podcasting provide another channel to present the library as a “living thing”. The possibilities for these are endless both for teaching and instruction. Everything from teaching about the library catalog to presenting a library tour can be made to come alive.
Social networking was not quite what I envisage for libraries. Most people want exciting things to do when they make friends and in doing research nobody finds the librarian that exciting. On the other hand a library presence in a very popular space does not hurt anything. It sure will create awareness and would probably draw someone's attention.
Web 2.0 was worth exploring I have new blogs to follow, I am using keyboard shortcuts to read my blogs and I am ready to try out new applications. I did my first chat at the reference desk and it was not intimidating.
