Useful Web 2.0 applications and Libraries

Web 2.0 tools should be an essential part of a library’s day-to-day activities. Gone are the days of just going to the library to borrow a book and then go home. These days, libraries are a hub for the public, from special events to a place where internet is readily available. There are several web 2.0 tools that could help a library to perform at its best for customers. From providing extra advertising opportunities to extra activities like blogs, web 2.0 tools are always helpful. I have chosen the following three as my most useful for libraries:

Twitter – This web 2.0 tool, which has the basic concept of a ‘140 character thought or message’ is a free and easy way to get information out to customers. Twitter is a very popular social media tool which has people from all over the world using it daily. Libraries which have already taken the plunge and joined twitter use it for advertising programs that they have coming up or as a way to link people to the library website. The main advantage of having a library service using twitter is that it provides up to date information to thousands of people instantly for absolutely no cost.

Facebook – Another social media tool which provides libraries with the option to connect to their customers in a more technological way is Facebook. Several libraries have created pages for the libraries and use it to, again, advertise to customers. The main difference of Facebook to Twitter is that Facebook requires you to have a page. This is a great advantage of this web 2.0 tool. This page can feature the libraries contact information as well as photos of the library itself. There is also the opportunity to upload videos to showcase library activities.

Blogger – This web 2.0 tool is, as the title suggests, a blogging website. Blogs are essentially a piece of writing that is published on the internet. Blogs are a very useful web 2.0 skill that libraries can harness to give their library a more ‘human’ view. Libraries that do use blogs get staff to update customers on what has been happening at their library or do such activities as reviews and recommendations. Using the blog as a review blog is an easy way for customers to get involved in your library service. Just ask customers to send you a review of their most recent completed book and add it to a blog. It’s there to see for everyone and requires next to no effort to maintain.