Attracted by 2.0

Computers in Libraries, Oct 2009 by Kaser, Dick

No theme listed in this year's editorial calendar garnered more reader interest than this month's Libraries on the Web's Cutting Edge edition, which was planned from the start to be about social media and Library 2.0 stuff.

As always, we let our readers determine the direction this issue would take, but in this instance, our readers revealed the darndest thing. We noted a recurring sentiment written between the lines of the article query submissions. Though the world at large may be drawn to 2.0, not every library succeeds at it. Some don't even try. And though it may sound easy, there are pitfalls to avoid in order to realize the technology's great promise.

We commissioned a set of stories that we hoped would reveal where and why Library 2.0 initiatives fail and how to make them succeed.

To set the stage, Zeth Lietzau of Colorado State Libraries presents the results of a baseline study of public library Web 2.0 adoption rates, which reveals something akin to a digital divide. Those public libraries that are well-funded and serve larger communities tend to be jumping in, while smaller libraries are not.

But what stands in the way of uptake, and how can we overcome the obstacles? Milica Cvetkovic provides some advice from a library in Serbia.

Paula Webb and Muriel Nero report on their study of 2.0-enabled college OPACs, giving some cloud-based solutions a big thumbs up.

And Amber Woodard is back this month to report on the progress of her project to take her library from "Zero to 2.0."

As a special treat, this issue also takes an inside look at the mashed-up outreach efforts at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, Marshall Breeding raves on tweets, and Dan Chudnov continues his rant on structured links.

All in all, this edition is all about succeeding, and not just bleeding, on the web's cutting edge.

Dick Kaser, Executive Editor

kaser@infotoday.com