How to Use Web 2.0 in Your Library

Citation

Parry, F. (2007), "How to Use Web 2.0 in Your Library", Online Information Review, Vol. 31 No. 6, pp. 906-907. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520710841847

Phil Bradley is an internet consultant who has worked and extensively published in electronic publishing and internet searching. Many information professionals will be aware of his blog (www.philbradley.typepad.com/) and column in CILIP's Update, and this book, with its infectious enthusiasm and curiosity, carries on in the same spirit.

Bradley does not spend too much time defining Web 2.0, although everything becomes clearer as he describes how Web 2.0 makes organising, sharing and creating information much easier and more exciting. Reassuringly for librarians, he claims that Web 2.0 is a “challenge for libraries, and not a challenge to libraries”. The new technology simply allows librarians to do what they do best even better – organise, disseminate and provide information to clients more efficiently and with more imagination.

It is immediately apparent that even the most frighteningly complicated‐sounding topics are clearly written and with a refreshing lack of jargon. Therefore, even the most technophobic librarians can approach the subject matter with confidence. There are chapters on RSS feeds, web logs, podcasts, social bookmarking services, building your own search engines, creating web sites, instant messaging and photograph sharing. In fact, there is something for everyone. Each chapter follows a similar format: description of service, technology and possible library applications. There are plenty of examples, and chapters conclude with a summary of URLs used.

Two chapters in particular caught my attention. The first is on social bookmarking services and the ability to create tags for your own institution's activities and use such services to keep up‐to‐date in your own subject field. The second concerns the librarian's holy grail, a custom‐built library search engine to help users retrieve relevant information from quality‐controlled web sites. These reflect my interests, and as I read more of this book it occurred to me that many chapters would be read avidly by librarians with special interests of their own. But are they able to get their ideas off the ground in large institutions where library web services are viewed holistically rather than as an amalgam of individual enthusiasms? This is dealt with very well and with considerable sensitivity in the final chapter about Web 2.0 implementation. Bradley talks about not expecting instant perfection and to gradually win round colleagues when they see tangible benefits from the new technology.

The book is accompanied by a web site which does the job of updating a fast‐moving subject – after all, as Bradley notes, he had to stop writing sometime – and also allows for plenty of interactive comment, editing, video snippets, lists of RSS feeds and much else. It exemplifies all the good practice he has been writing about, particularly in the first chapter where he describes the phenomenon of content creation through collective intelligence and the empowerment of the end‐user. But note that the URL mentioned in the book is slightly incorrect – remove “portal/” from the URL and it will work, as will the alternative truncated Tiny URL in the appendix.

This is the sort of book that will be read and referred to by librarians the world over who are keen to be stimulated by the possibilities of Web 2.0 and put into practice the many good ideas to enliven and refresh their library services.