A parallel universe? Blogs, wikis, Web 2.0 and a complicated future for scholarly communication

Abstract

The Internet has yet to come of age, but there seems to be no industry that has yet to feel the transformative effects of its arrival. Change has come fast, and the pace of innovation and the multitude of issues that are raised with each development can seem overwhelming at times. Once upon a time, publishers and librarians were the clear custodians of access to scholarly information; but now, the ability to self-publish via tools such as blogs and wikis, a deluge in the availability of seemingly valuable scholarly information, and a radically different attitude and approach to the promulgation and use of that information, are utterly transforming the environment in which we operate. Yet the core values of publishing are going to be more important than ever as this new environment evolves. Publishers and librarians should be excited by the opportunities that await us. Article © David Smith.