WHAT IS WEB 2.0 ?
Antoinette Lourens

"Web 2.0" recently became a buzz word in the computer environment. The phrase "Web 2.0" hints at an improved form of the World Wide Web but it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications. It rather refers to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use the Web.

Web 1.0 was static with read-only websites, whose content could only be modified by the site's owner. Visitors could only view but not touch it. Web 2.0 includes a social element where users generate and distribute content, often with freedom to share and re-use.

Web 2.0 is

  • a trend in the use of World Wide Web technology
  • web design that aims to facilitate creativity
  • information sharing
  • collaboration among users.

    • These concepts led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites (facebook etc.) , wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.

    The Veterinary Science Library has already implemented some of these Web 2.0 tools and the staff are using them with great enthusiasm.

    Blogs (weblogs) created and used are:

  • Vet dink flink - Goals of the Veterinary Science Library, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Summaries of achievements each year since 2004. Items include Standards for veterinary libraries, E-books etc. http://uniekevet.blogspot.com/
  • 5ICAHIS (5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists, July 2005, Onderstepoort) – This conference was organised by the Veterinary Science Library. The Blog was started early 2005 and was terminated in 2006. http://knowledgeflows.blogspot.com/
  • Ebooks@ TUKS – to keep users informed about the Library’s e-book strategy. http://aisebooks.blogspot.com/
  • UPSpace Metadata Training – information necessary for people who are adding metadata to UP Space items.

    • Wikis created and used are:

  • Vetstrategies – communication on important matters for library personnel and library users as well as marketing purposes. http://vetstrategies.pbwiki.com/
  • References / links – for everybody who uses UPSpace https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/4720

    • Flickr is used for:

  • Veterinary Library photos – photos taken at special events are published so that everybody can see what we are doing. http://www.flickr.com/veterinary_library/sets
  • Veterinary UPSpace – Additional photos are uploaded to enhance the UPSpace collections https://www.up.ac.za/dspace/handle/2263/80

    • Facebook: All the library’s Information Specialists have a profile on it.

    Google Earth: A satellite and terrain map with directions to the Veterinary Faculty has been created with the help of Google Earth. It can be viewed at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104318637276089241142.00044b60e2b4454878881&t=p&z=13