Web 2.0 Technology

In this serial of blog I have been discussing the changes in technology that is forcing Libraries to change their service offering together with how they offer their current services. In the previous post, I proposed web 2.0 but what is web 2.0 and how does it really fit into the context of library services?

To answer this I now take a dive into web 2.0 and try to dissect it.

Webs 2.0, contrary to what most people perceive is not a standard. As O’Reilly himself projected it is just a collection of ideas on the perceived services. Minsk observes that “in recent years, new software design patterns and business models are observed on the Web which is commonly referred to as Web 2.0 (Minsk, 2007: 315)” Most people call it as an experience. Some people describe it as “warm” web or “hot” web. It is “warm” because it provides a kind of warmth to the users—a kind of ‘interactivity’ to the users. It is “warm” because it provides dialogue and life. Stephen Abraham describes Web 2.0 as a “conversation”. Modern users look for this kind of warm experience with the web, something like an interactive dialogue. The outcome of this interactivity is the emergence of services like Instant Messaging, Steaming media, Blogs, news feeds, tagging etc. which are grouped together called as Web 2.0 services.

The modern library concepts have also embraced these services and call them as Library 2.0 services. The concepts of Library 2.0, OPAC 2.0, and Librarian 2.0 are the offspring of Web 2.0 ideas. The idea of Web 2.0 can be summarized as the reciprocal link between the user and provider. The essence of Web 2.0 lies in the genuine interactivity between the user and the content. Thus many services which underline the participation platform were derived and underline the concept of Web 2.0.

From time immemorial librarians strives hard to deliver new and upcoming services to their users. The second generation of libraries is broadly classified as those which make use of the Web 2.0 tools and techniques to usher its users to the next level of usage. The first generation of Library services used the technology as only extensions of their existing manual operations. The card catalogs were converted into electronic catalogs. The manual circulation and Readers’ services were made automated services. But the advents of Web 2.0 concepts and tools have brought in a sea change in the process of library services. The exciting Web 2.0 tools such as Synchronous Communication (Instant Messaging), Content Delivery (RSS Feeds, News Feeds), Streaming Media, Collaborative Publishing Tools (Blogs, Wikis, Tagging etc.,), and Social Networks are slowly becoming part of the library services. Many librarians and integrated library systems use these exciting tools to bridge the gap between the user and the information.

Most of the services and tools of the second generation of libraries are not new to libraries.