Knowledge and use of Web 2.0 by librarians in university libraries of East Azerbaijan, Iran
| Pages | 1013-1030 |
| Published date | 07 November 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-10-2014-0192 |
| Date | 07 November 2016 |
| Author | Sanam Ebrahimzadeh Pirshahid,Nader Naghshineh,Fatima Fahimnia |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Knowledge and use of Web 2.0
by librarians in university
libraries of East Azerbaijan, Iran
Sanam Ebrahimzadeh Pirshahid
Young Researchers and Elite Club, Islamic Azad University,
Tabriz, Iran, and
Nader Naghshineh and Fatima Fahimnia
Faculty of Library and Information Science, University of Tehran,
Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Purpose – The present study aims to investigate levels of awareness and use of Web 2.0 tools by
librarians in the university libraries of East Azerbaijan (EA) in Iran and to determine how librarians use
these tools in everyday life.
Design/methodology/approach – A Web-based questionnaire was used to collect data from 38 per
cent librarians in the university libraries of EA.
Findings – The research ndings indicate that the librarians were more familiar with Web 2.0 tools
such as wikis and blogs. While librarians widely use blogs and wikis, tools such as social bookmarking,
social networks, RSS feeds, instant messaging and digital maps were less frequently used. Results
obtained from present study indicated that librarians use Web 2.0 tools mostly to communicate with
friends and family, to keep up-to-date, to collaborate with colleagues and for curiosity and fun. Also,
librarians believe that Web 2.0 tools can be used mostly for sharing information about library resources.
Internet ltering, lack of access to high-speed internet and lack of training were the major obstacles for
Web 2.0 adoption by librarians.
Originality/value – This study is a useful source for implementing Web 2.0-based technology in
libraries. Also, this study will help managers understand the librarians’ needs about Web 2.0 to improve
their library services.
Keywords Academic libraries, Web 2.0, Social media, Librarians
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The internet offers a wide range of free, professional tools that can be adapted by
libraries to be used for a variety of purposes. In recent years, a number of digital and
networking tools have emerged on the internet. These digital applications, enabling
interaction, collaboration and sharing among users, are generally referred to as Web 2.0
(Birdsall, 2007). The term Web 2.0 refers to a second generation of design and
development that facilitates communication, secure information sharing,
interoperability and collaboration between a host and the public over the internet.
Web 2.0 as a term was ofcially introduced in 2004 by Dougherty and O’Reilly of
O’Reilly Media Inc., renowned for its technology-related conferences and respected
books (Anderson, 2007). Libraries and librarians began to discuss Web 2.0 services soon
after the term was developed in 2005 (Chad and Miller, 2005). The main characteristics
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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Knowledge
and use of
Web 2.0
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TheElectronic Library
Vol.34 No. 6, 2016
pp.1013-1030
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-10-2014-0192
of Web 2.0 are user-created websites, self-publishing platforms, tagging control over
data and added value to applications (O’Reilly, 2005). The development of Web 2.0
indicates a major shift in thinking as the “new” Web allows anyone to contribute
content, thus increasing the signicance of individual users, and thereby relying on
participation (wisdom of the crowd, architecture of participation) and a shift toward
collaborative effort (Thompson, 2008). Examples of Web 2.0 applications are blogs,
instant messaging (IM), RSS feeds, wikis, social bookmarking and podcasts. Web 2.0
tools are often considered to be communication facilitators.
Recently, Web 2.0 has inuenced the way that libraries, museums, archives and other
cultural heritage organizations carry out their operations. Web 2.0 plays a key role in the
dispensation of information, knowledge and communication services in university
libraries. The concept of Library 2.0 is deeply rooted in the use and application of
Web 2.0 systems. The term Library 2.0 was coined by Casey in September 2005 (Casey
and Savastinuk, 2006). Library 2.0 refers to a growing area of interactive and social tools
in libraries. As librarianship strives to evolve in response to the needs of the internet
generation, use of Web 2.0 has become an indispensable tool in the work of library
professionals. Rehman and Shaque (2011) stated that “Web 2.0 technologies are
blessings for library professionals, as libraries can design attractive services using
Web 2.0 applications”. Web 2.0 tools enable libraries to reach out to a larger number of
users, entice potential patrons to use library resources and services and deliver
improved patron-driven services (Casey and Savastinuk, 2006). They also motivate the
user community and broaden participation by attracting an additional user base, which
thus expands the ways to accomplish the traditional work of academic libraries (Neal
and Jaggars, 2010). Maness (2006) wrote that Library 2.0 is “the application of
interactive, collaborative, and multi-media web-based technologies to web-based library
services and collections”. Previous research indicated that Web 2.0 tools affected
librarians in the library and information science (LIS) eld. While many studies have
been conducted worldwide on Web 2.0, most of these studies focus on one particular
Web 2.0 tool, such as Facebook, blogs, Flickr, IM, wikis and so on.
This study discerns some noticeable patterns regarding usage, trends and adoption
of a variety of Web 2.0 tools by librarians in East Azerbaijan (EA) academic libraries
and notes that Web 2.0 is a useful source for implementing Web-based technologies in
the EA academic libraries.
The study will provide academic libraries with helpful information to better meet
their users’ needs by showing how to effectively apply Web 2.0. Additionally, this study
will help library managers understand librarian needs to improve their library services
and information centres. Hence, the main research question revolves around how
librarians in EA can combine Web 2.0 tools successfully with their own professional
services. Thus, the aim of the present research is to investigate the awareness and use of
the most popular Web 2.0 tools by librarians in the university libraries of EA in Iran. To
do so, the following research questions were raised:
RQ1. To what extent are librarians of EA university libraries aware of Web 2.0
tools?
RQ2. To what extent do EA librarians use Web 2.0 tools?
RQ3. For what purpose(s) do these librarians use Web 2.0 tools in everyday life?
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