Academic and Public Libraries’ Use of Web 2.0 Applications and Services in Mississippi

Abstract

Since its creation by Tim Berners‐Lee in 1989, the World Wide Web has provided access to information to hundreds of millions around the world. Sodt and Summey (2009) describe Web 2.0 as a “second generation” term to describe the “user‐driven, collaborative, participatory, and personalized web” (p. 98). Since these kinds of interactive experiences can attract users to libraries, libraries often feel encouraged to become familiar with Web 2.0 technologies (Dye, 2007). Libraries that have adopted Web 2.0 features are often described as having “Library 2.0” capabilities (Casey & Savastinuk, 2006). Libraries offer options for home users like virtual reference services, databases, catalog tagging, and downloadable media (Maness, 2006). Ranganathan’s Law of Library Science (1931) states that the library should be considered a growing organism (Noruzi, 2004) and therefore the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies can be seen as a natural transition from print‐based libraries into their more evolved virtual counterparts.