Implications of Web 2.0

When looking at the implications of Web 2.0 for librarians, there is one certain and obvious change; patrons are able to locate and learn about specific material almost instantaneously. The patron is able to locate materials faster than they can locate materials within some library databases. The patron can buy a book with one click from Amazon, which can change the way a patron uses the library system. Another implication is that because of the accessibility of Web 2.0, there has been a change in the way some libraries catalog their books. I know that at my local library the catalog does have a spell check and will ask, for example, if you meant Cast instead of Caste. Also there are reviews of books from different types of professional literature that can assist you to know if the book is really what you are looking for. Also a patron can download eBooks from the library. So while there are many different features of Web 2.0 that make finding materials and information more rapidly, some libraries have changed some features of the catalog to make the system more user friendly for the end user.

When looking at my personal Delicious tags, I find that the headings for my tags are helpful to me and my needs. I don't know if they would be more efficient for another user though. The vocabulary that I use is relevant to my needs and lifestyle. However, I am not sure that the vocabulary that I use is what someone else would use, who may have a different set of associations. Therefore, I feel that the tags are personally more helpful to me, than some of the subject headings, however, I don't know if my personal words and phrases would meet everyone's needs.