Have you heard of Web 2.0? If not, you will. You may not have heard of it using that terminology, but if you have read any other entries in this blog then you know about some of the elements that make up Web 2.0.

Although there are many definitons out there and many arguments about whether it is anything new or just hype, there is something to be said about how the Internet itself and its use, is changing. To me, Web 2.0 is about the Read/Write web. It is where Internet users not only absorb content, but then also go and create new content on the web. Reminds me of why we have fair use provisions in our copyright laws. The intent of that and the way Web 2.0 works, is by people taking existing work and building on it to create something new.

They are doing this new creating, using freely available and widely varying software tools available on the Internet, such as blogs, wikis and other social software, eg. social bookmarking, photo sharing, file sharing and so much more. If you heard of del.icio.us, My Space, Flickr or Technorati, then you are aware of just some of the more popular tools being used in what is known as Web 2.0. If you haven’t heard of them, check them out.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all teens diaries and party photos being shared. It is that, but it is more. Business is getting into blogs and wikis in a big way and libraries are making inroads into all the software tools that I mentioned above and creating their own.

There doesn’t seem to be any limit to what can be done with Web 2.0 tools as programming savvy people take existing structures and create new applications from them. Us less programming savvy people are then using those tools for purposes that weren’t necessarily envisioned at their creation. For example, a library user has created an application which sits on top of the Amazon webpage and enables him to check to see if a book he has found there, is available at his local public library. How cool is that!

What does it mean for the public library? The potential is almost limitless, because most of this software is web based and free. The only limits are our imagination and of course, getting our patrons interested and using the technology. Which brings me back to earth with a large thump.

I can get carried away and my workmates and husband will agree that I do so quite often. When it comes down to it, its all about the patrons, not the technology. So unless its something that is going to serve them better and get new people interested in their local library, its not something we will be doing.

Libraries are changing and Web 2.0 is one way - either with the technology or not, we will adapt and meet the needs of our varying users and potential users as best we can. I will be doing what I can with Web 2.0 to meet that particular niche of the market. Others in my service will be reaching out in different ways. But there is the similarity we have, whilst it is also the difference between the library now and in the past, we will be reaching out!

If you want to read more about Web 2.0, there is plenty of great stuff out there, including “What is Web 2.0: design patterns and business models for the next generation of software”, “Anti-Web 2.0” and “Web 2.0: building the new library“. In a future blog I will talk more about Web 2.0 in libraries, more commonly known now as Library 2.0.