'All that Glisters is not gold' - Web 2.0 and the Librarian

Abstract

Web 2.0 and social media applications such as blogs, wikis and social networking sites offer the promise of a more vibrant, social and participatory Internet. There is a growing interest within the library community in debating the potential impact that such services might have within libraries and such debates have gathered around the moniker of 'Library 2.0'. To date, however, there has been little theoretical work and there is a need to develop more formal definitions and frameworks. This editorial discusses the origins of the term Web 2.0, provides a structured framework for rationalizing the implications of Web 2.0 services and outlines some of the areas in which librarians are positioned to provide a unique contribution to the further development of such services. Copyright © 2007 Sage Publications.