Web 2.0 for Reference Services: An Overview

This paper examines what the concept of web 2.0 is all about and it
attributes by using an acronym SLATES to explain what web 2.0 entails
and they are as follows: Search: this is the ease of finding information
through keyword search which makes the platform valuable Links: guides
to important pieces of information. The best pages are the most frequently
linked to.Authoring: the ability to create constantly updating content over
a platform that is shifted from being the creation of a few to being the
constantly updated, interlinked work. In Wikis, the content is iterative in
the sense that the people undo and redo each other’s work. In blogs,
content is cumulative in that posts and comments of individuals are
accumulated over time.Tags: categorization of content by creating tags
that are simple, one-word descriptions to facilitate searching and avoid
rigid, pre-made categories.Extensions: automation of some of the work
and pattern matching by using algorithms e.g. amazon.com
recommendations.Signals: the use of RSS (Really Simple Syndication)
technology to notify users with any changes of the content by sending emails
to them.” The various web 2.0 tools such as social networks, wiki,
blogs, microblogging etc. it also talks about the application of these tools
in the provision of effective and efficient reference services. The paper
alsoaddressthe effects of web 2.0 application on library and information
professionals and the library users. The constraints to the application of
web 2.0 for reference services.