Definition of Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is the term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online.Macaskill and Owen (2006) have defined Web 2.0 tools as “web-based platform which allows users to gain access, contribute, describe, harvest, tag, annotate and bookmark web mediated content in various formats, such as text, video, audio, pictures and graphs.” Stuart (2010) has defined Web 2.0 tools as sites which share stuff.
Some of the Web 2.0 based popular websites are Flicker which can be used to share Photos, YouTube for sharing videos, Last.fm for sharing audio, and MySpace for sharing text based information.
Importance of Web 2.0 tools
The Web 2.0 tools have a pervasive impact on society. They allow users to create, describe, post, search, collaborate, share and communicate online content in various forms, ranging from music and bookmarks to photographs and documents (Macaskill & Owen, 2006; Virkus, 2008). The Horizon Report (2007) has highlighted that users can create content via Web 2.0 tools; social networking using mobile phones, etc. will have a considerable influence on higher education.Use of major Web 2.0 tools in academic libraries
Library staff use Web 2.0 tools for professional and personal development; however, this study is confined to understanding uses of Web 2.0 at the institutional level. Hanson and Cervone (2007) identified Wiki, blog, Really Simple Syndication (RSS), Instant Messaging (IM) and podcast as the prominent Web 2.0 tools for academic Libraries. The present study has covered all the major tools identified by Hanson and Cervone, Casey (2005), Maness (2006), Singer and Sherrill (2007), Macaskill and Owen (2006), and Nguyen (2008). In addition to these, it discusses the use of vodcast because the researchers are working in an open and distance learning system. The potential of vodcast can be harnessed for providing services to distance learners. The following segments define and explain the various Web 2.0 tools which can be used in academic libraries at the institutional level.RSS
Really simple syndication is a family of web formats used to publish information about frequently updated works such as blog entries, news feeds, live audio, and video in the standard formats (Libby, 1999). Wusteman (2004) noted the important role of RSS in keeping users updated with the latest information. RSS feeds update users about the additions or changes which take place on websites of interest, providing updates from one source instead of accessing individual websites (King & Brown, 2009).Example: The Library of University of Southampton provides news feed on RSS to inform students about activities and events held in the University.
RSS use:
01. General news/University news02. Library news and events
03. List of new books
04. List of e- journals and e-resources databases
05. Announcements about workshops and exhibitions
06. Usage of RSS for listing of resources in additions to
Institutional Repository
07. Help for catalogue search
08. Library instructions
09. Instructions given to use RSS
10. Links on library’s web site/pages to download RSS
11. Entries are classified to make access easy
12. Items in RSS are searchable
Blogs
A blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual that contains regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events or other materials such as videos (Wikipedia, 2010a). It is a web page containing brief, chronologically arranged items of information. King and Porter (2007) suggested that blogs in academic libraries could be used for internal communication, to facilitate academic debate and to communicate with patrons, promoting new books and providing subject guides, current awareness and customized catalogue searches. McIntyre and Nicolle (2007) emphasized that blogs are equally popular for internal as well as external communication. Hane (2001) wrote an article, entitled “Blogs are a natural for librarians.” Blogs are hosted on public domains, which are available without charge.Blog use:
01. Blog accessible to all by default02. General information
03. Research tips
04. List of new books
05. Book reviews/discussions
06. Information literacy
07. List of e-resources and databases
08. Down time of servers/databases
09. Hours of operation, holidays
10. Information about employment and careers
11. Instructions given to use blogs
12. Dates and time of postings of blog entries
13. Archives for the blog; if not skip next checkpoint
14. Archival entries are up to 1 year old
15. The latest postings are within the last week
16. Entries are brows able by topics
17. Blog links to Library’s homepage
18. Blog links to Library catalogue
Instant messaging
Instant messaging allows online communication between two or more people using text based short messages via the web in real time. Academic libraries use IM to provide virtual reference services, improve access of other services and provide the latest information to students (Stephens, 2006). Instant messaging also acts as an additional medium to facilitate interactions with patrons.Use of IM:
01. Reference services02. Advice on Library services
03. Guidance to access resources
04. Others (date and time about upcoming events: lectures, free trial access, issues not cover in other items, etc.)
05. Instructions to use IM
06. Library offers text based chat
07. Library offers voice chat
08. Instant Messaging services are available for more than 8 h
Podcast
The word podcast comes from the amalgamation of the words iPod and broadcast. However, the “pod” is a bit of a misnomer as podcasts can also be played on computers and mp3 players. This tool is used to exchange and share audio programmes among patrons over the Internet. King and Brown (2009) noted that libraries can share pictures, events, and instructions by podcast. Podcast is a catchy tool to market library services and attract new users (Lee, 2006). The delivery of audio streams by podcast is managed through pod-catchers such as iTunes, Armangil or Juice.Podcast use:
01. Library orientation tours02. General searching skills
03. Searching Library catalogues
04. Guidance to use resources
05. Guidance to use other library facilities
06. Information literacy tutorials
07. Interviews/speeches of head of institutions
08. Instructions given to use podcasts
09. RSS feeds available for podcasts
10. Transcripts available for podcasts
Vodcast
Wikipedia (2010b) defines the vodcast as a series of digital media files (either audio or video formats) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. A vodcast mainly is used to deliver videos on demand to patrons over the web. The functioning features and limitations of vodcast are similar to those of podcast. The size of video programmes is comparatively larger than the size of audio programmes; therefore, vodcasts need high-speed Internet connectivity. To reduce downloading time, vodcast video clips are typically three to 5 min in duration. Certain information, such as the physical layout of the library, general searching skills, and the self-issuing and returning of books can be explained effectively through visual clips.For example, the Library of University of Leicester provides video streams over vodcast to explain the procedure for self-issuing and returning of books. Mount Allison University’s Library provides video streams to demonstrate search strategy, plagiarism, and so forth.
Use of vodcast:
01. Guidance to use e-resources: databases and e-books02. Guidance to access catalogue
03. Guidance to access electronic resources from off campus
04. Explained procedure for self-issuing and returning
Wikis
A Wiki is a website, which facilitates the creation and editing of web pages using a simplified markup language or WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) based text editor, and is used to create collaborative websites. Anyone with a web browser can edit content of Wikis, which are organized by Wiki software. The first Wiki software was developed by Ward Cunningham. Libraries and academic institutions have been using Wikis for group learning, for sharing knowledge, experiences and open source products, and also to provide subject guides (Frumkin, 2005; King & Porter, 2007; Payne, 2008). Wikis have recently been adopted to support a variety of collaborative activities within libraries. Bejune (2007) emphasized the role of Wikis in libraries in extending collaboration activities: a) among libraries, b) among library staff, c) between library staff and patrons, and d) among users.Use of Wikis:
01. As subject guides02. Project planning
03. Policy manuals
05. Listings of resource
06. Training resources
07. Others (information about writing styles, plagiarism and such issues not covered in other items)
08. Instructions given to use Wikis
09. Library designs its own Wiki
10. Allows users to edit contents of Wiki
11. Provide tools to format text and images
12. Enable users to upload files
13. Users can recall earlier page on wikis
14. Provide RSS feeds for new and updated information on Wiki
15. Provide keyword search engine
16. Link to Library home page
17. Requires users to register
18. Have statement about copyright and content ownership
19. Is social book marking available?
Reference: Use of Web 2.0 tools in academic libraries: A reconnaissance of the international landscape - Manorama Tripathi, Sunil Kumar
