Week 6 Assignment:Web 2.0 & Library 2.0:What are the implications of the technological trends on info. literacy & how can libraries meet challenges

Web 2.0 & Library 2.0: What are the implications of the technological trends on information literacy and how can libraries meet the challenges?

Introduction
This assignment identifies the emerging Web 2.0 technologies, and defines the term information literacy. It continues to discuss the challenges that the technologies bring about for libraries and provides suggestions as to how libraries can meet the challenges.

Web 2.0 technologies
The technological trends that Web 2.0 has introduced include:

wikis
blogs
podcasts
RSS
social bookmarking
screencasting

It is likely that new technologies will continue to emerge.

Information literacy
Information literacy is concerned with all aspects of information, for example, how best to deliver information, knowing when and why information is needed, where to find it, how to access it and how to share and evaluate information. Subsequently, skills are needed to become information literate in terms of, for example, designing, producing and delivering information in its most useful format and to be able to access and evaluate it. The information itself might be print or electronic. It might be easily accessible, for example, the mere opening of a book, or it might be more difficult, for example, access to a computer, knowledge of how to use the computer and the range of applications, password restrictions and IT restraints.

An aspect of information literacy involves the ability to communicate, share and deliver information in a manner that is useful to the audience. It is this part of information literacy that this assignment is most concerned with and how we (libraries) can meet the challenges of communicating, sharing and delivering information. This involves thinking realistically about the best use of the individual technologies, demonstrating their usefulness and evaluating their success. Applying the technologies is perhaps the easy part, drawing users in is the challenge.

Challenges
The challenges include library staff keeping abreast of, and learning how to use, the new technologies and introducing the technologies to the library user. A further challenge is to design library websites that provide a choice of information delivery systems (RSS, blogs, podcasts, etc.) in order to remain as good as competitors and attract and hold an audience. Consider authoritative websites that supply reliable information, for example, the BBC and look at the technologies used to deliver their information, RSS, podcasts, wikis etc. It is these types of sites that we need to ascribe to in order to keep users interested.

The greatest challenge is closing the gap between the user and non-user; the IT experts and those with limited knowledge. The library needs to be proactive in demonstrating the usefulness of the technologies and the skills of how to use them effectively.

Conclusion
The Web 2.0 technologies are wikis, blogs, podcasts, etc. and the use of these technologies requires information literacy skills. The challenges for libraries include keeping abreast of the technologies and developing the skills to apply them, to draw users in and demonstrate usefulness, and to remain as good as competitors.