Question No.4 (INF413)

When the concept of web 2.0 is moving from static, passive and information ready model of information retrieval to a collaborative effort of creating , distributing and sharing information online, many communities are formed. Some famous examples of web 2.0 are wiki and blogs, which sparkle online interaction and have huge implication on the idea of Library 2.0.
For instance, both blogs and wikis can be used to reach a target users like the St Joseph County Public Library GameBlog or become a communication role in project like the E-publications in Bond Implementation Project.
A wiki can also function as a library space for community, like the National Library of Australia's 'TAKE PART Initiative: Australia Dancing' ,or as a subject or reference guide, in the Ohio University Libraries Biz Wiki. Blogs, on the other hand, can be an online newsletter in Bond University or an OPAC in Plymouth State University Library Catalogue.

However, as the author pointed out that Library 2.0 is more than just using blog and wiki, as it offers a new model for future library servicing. It is the premises behind these technologies that make communication and collaboration online by community works. For example, blogs can only be contributed by a number of specific contributors and other users or readers can just give comments. For wikis, its content can be edited by any users and the limitation to editing may violate the idea of collaboration. Therefore, these tools should be carefully planned and lots of preparatory works are required to make them integrating well with the current library system.

First, such new communication tool must fit into the mission value and goals of the library, and the librarians should have a clear concept of what the mission is. Then the library should go for developing a strategic management plan for the policies of its usage and content . Once find out the new technology cannot fit in with the mission and goals, it may be better to leave it alone than stick with the original plan. Internal test and planning are necessary to decide what services are likely to provide for patrons. Other important measures for managing blogs successfully are: Have a good education on all policies and guidelines with employees, have a clear and written rules to control the content and make them available to public. Establish a management team for policy making rather than just one person job.

Even when the bolgs and wiki services are running in library, it is important that the comments and opinions given by patrons must be heard. As blogs can just leave comments by the patrons, it is essential that staff have to take come action to prevent any inappropriate comments left. Any false information on wiki must be removed so as to keep the them honest and genuine. When the content is the main appeal to the users, the librarians should be keeping them fresh and inviting more comments, as blogs and wiki are interactive, 7/24 information service. The library should also keep them regularly and frequently update. Once there is no response or comments for a few days, users may lose interest and patience and look for something else instead. In that case, the service will be back to traditional drop-in enquiry that no interaction is made. Therefore, careful monitoring of those services should be combined with high participation , so as to ensure a smooth and satisfactory service.

Question No.3 (INF413)

Many new and free technologies are now available for libraries to enhance their services, such as blogs, wikis and RSS feeds.

Blogs is a kind of web site that the content is presented as diary. The content of the blog can be written by one author or collaborative author, so the libraries can update the content by collaborative effort . As the bolg can be updated at anytime, libraries can use this to provide 7/24 services and content delivery. Sometimes blogs are used by library as informational tools that can inform users for any update of the collection, latest event of the library services and library activities news. For example, the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin is working on a blog for providing a new communication channel with the users and latest news of the library. The Yarra Plenty Regional Library in Victoria, on the other hand, builds a blog not only for enhancing the interaction between the users and the library, but also between staff.

Once start with blogs, library service like updating new entries to the collection can become easy. Each new entry can also be directed to other internet resources that can enrich the user’s knowledge to that titles. Other services like online book discussion, book award announcements , author interviews and hot library topic for this week can also be done within a blog. Other services like children’s bolg for attracting more children to browse, giving comments and promote reading. The results of providing a blog is that library services and resources can then be promoted as more people know what library is doing. An example of such is the blog from the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin, which publish a book review every day to encourage more comments and opinions.

Another free technology is wikipedia, which is an open platform for letting web users to create and edit their entries. Users can also create new pages and crosslink with other entries, which make referencing more easier To contribute in wikipedia is simple and no programming knowledge is required, and any entries can be edited or deleted by anyone else.

Nowadays some libraries are benefiting from wiki in a few ways. One of such use is combining the open editing power with library-related issue. Librarians can then share and edit the latest library issue on a open platform, so as to promote interaction with others. An example of such is Library and Information Science Wiki (LISWiki) (http://liswiki.com/wiki/ ), which provide opportunity for other librarians to share and develop various library issues. Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki (www.libsuccess.org/index.) is doing something similar, and the focus is more sharing ideas and thoughts of how to become a more successful library.To library users, some wiki (like The Biz Wiki (www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page) is developing as a form of library resources that contains information on database, reference book and other research material for the students, staff and librarians to work on. The Princeton Public Library is also building a wiki (http://booklovers.pbwiki.com/) using similar theme, that allow readers to post their book reviews on the wiki.

RSS feeds is also another free technology for getting information, such as news, blogs or other webpage that support this function. By adding this function on the webpage and once users subscribe it, a number of items like headline, description or website link will automatically feed to users computer. When library users subscribe RSS feeds from library webpage, they are able to get the latest update from the library without visiting its homepage. Useful information like upcoming library events, new purchased items and new services available in library can directly send to users promptly. An example of such is Australian Nation University which feeds it lists of new titles in the catalogue.

Question No.2 (INF413)

When libraries are facing the problem of limited funding for staff, resources acquisition and services models provided, there is a strong need for getting a more efficient way for utilizing it. However, according to the authors, no matter how hard they try, the services utilization rate is still far from satisfactory. It is hard to reach the service to the users physically, as its space, location and resources limit the library. Services are then constrained by the physical nature of the library itself, and users can’t receive their most desirable services.

The authors raised the idea of Library 2.0 for the possibility of getting a new road for library services, which lies on the idea that the services provided is changed to user-center base. It aims to bring a new way to reach users that are hard to reach before, as can improve the current services by a more user-oriented approach.

The basis of Library 2.0 model is thus to open the opportunity for library users to take part in reviewing, evaluating and commenting the library services. Users can turn, from a passive service-receiving role, into designing their library services they want. The library users can then actively tailors make the services that best suit them, or even let the users to decide the service they want, and this can be done via web. A possibility is using blogs and wikipedia in the library webpage, and more people are willing to input comment into the library. For example, Temple University Library in Philadelphia is using blog to provide a platform for sharing news and discussion. In the homepage of Ann Arbor District Library, it has turned itself into a blog that can allow quick respond and community building. In Saint Joseph County Public Library in South Bend, in order to facilitate user’s feedback, is now using open source wiki software.

Other approach for Library 2.0 model is personalization of library web pages, which can increase the appeal and value to users. Users can add the component of services they like from the library. For instance, services like on-line book talks and discussion groups are now possible within the website of library, which broaden the physical limits of the library. Also, users can review, comment and give rating for certain titles and services at anytime so that the standard of library servicing can keep improving. The service in Library 2.0 is then extended to user’s computers once they connect to the web. Librarians can then take part in responding, regularly updating and evaluating the services. By collecting more comments, tags, rating and feedbacks from users for their favorite books, authors or events, the library can know more what service that the user want and how they can improve for the existing services. From the comment collected, the even create a more interactive and informative services (like improved OPAC interface) to users, which result in a good supplement for both side.

So it turns out that Library 2.0 attempts to explore a new direction for the development of library. By sharing and user participation, library service not only can reach to the users physically, but also virtually without timeframe and land boundary.
With all the components (sharing, inviting user’s comment and rating) combined for building the framework of Library 2.0, the library can offer a continual and organic service model for the library users.

Question No.1 (INF413)

The concept of Web 2.0 is originated from a conference brainstorming session between O'Reilly and MediaLive International. O'Reilly found out that after the dot come bubbles burst, those companies that had survived had something in common. As the web is increasingly more important than ever and with more new applications, technology and sites, sometimes the web is served as a platform that let people share information. The idea of Web 2.0 is thus built as a platform for collaboration and information sharing in previously unavailable ways. Sites that can exemplify the concept like flickr, Wikipedia and PictureAustralia, as it doesn’t have a solid boundary, best illustrate the concept of Web 2.0.

These sites have things in common. One of the main features is that some of the data of the site is irregularly and continuously created or uploaded by various web users, and these data eventually form the basis of massive data repositories. A part of the data is built along with the website formation, which forms the core part of the site and thus neither accessible nor replaceable. So, the idea of Web 2.0 is to encourage user to participate and contribute data or by tagging, giving comments, ratings and reviews. By this way, the user can interact with the community in the particular application as well as forming a symbiotic relationship with each other. For example, the web-based photo management and sharing service flickr is arranging the photos uploaded through the descriptive metadata called tags written by the users. Rather than sorting the photos into rigid categories, tagging allows multiple and overlapping associations just like how the brain works. For instance, photo of a puppy in flickr can be tagged with "puppy" and "cute", so that search can be done more specifically. Based on the number and name of tags that the users input, other users can also search what they like in a much easier way. Also they can add description and comment on the most interesting photos, which can be shared, book -marked and commented by other user as well. The sharing and storage of massive amount of photos can be done freely, and can be achieved in a cheap computer thorough flickr.

Another example of Web 2.0 is Wikipedia, which a web-based encyclopedia that allow web users to add and edit entry freely, and the whole process is based on simple trust. As there is a limited central editorial control, the content can be updated quickly and be freely provided to other users. User can tract their editing records of each entry as well as other users. If users have any disagreement on any entry, there is discussion forum inside to share the views. Although it’s content is often criticized by of being damaged, inconsistent and uneven quality, it is now thriving and has developed into a 10,000,000 articles in more than 250 languages version. In respond to the expanding need of quality to wikipedia, it is now hiring experts to write some of the entries and review the existing content. Currently the running of the website is still maintained by voluntary donation, so as to keep the maximum independence.

Another important usage for Web 2.0 is allowing interrelationship services between various website using programmable interfaces, which is also the concept of mashup. PictureAustralia is an example of such, which provides a picture database to historical material. When users upload their photos to flickr and add them to the PictureAustralia group, they will be automatically added. The results are amazing: from it’s beginning in 1998 as a pilot project by 44 participants, it already provides access to over one million pictures.