Taking a focus on a specific library type, namely public libraries, this book be useful for practitioners:
The most critical issue for public librarians today is bringing their services out of the dark of the hidden web, and in doing so creating a new role for themselves in the digital community (p. 1).
Although there are useful sections such as the Web 2.0 meme map, I was hoping for a bit more, such as more structure and more detail, especially after reading the author's excellent background on the topic.
The table of contents for the six chapters offer the first impression. Unfortunately chapter titles as well as sub-titles, although catchy, are not very informative, e.g. “We've been here before”, “In the beginning, the future”. Such titles can support an interesting read, but it is very difficult to go back and trace specific content or ideas afterwards except if one relies very heavily on the index. In this regard, I found the prologue explaining the content and purpose of chapters much more useful. Valuable advice such as how to approach the use of social networking in public libraries can easily disappear: “Now the communication is represented by the London Tube map: around, up and down, across, sideways. The key is to explore and identify the new role of libraries in that exchange, and whether that new role requires a different kind of branding to promote libraries to the public” (p. 15), or the importance of setting objectives before getting too carried away by the potential of social networking (p. 72).
The manuscript deals with the use of Web 2.0 and social networking in public libraries: Chapter 1 sketches the digital climate change, Chapter 2 the ethos of social networking and the wisdom of crowds, Chapter 3 its use in public libraries, Chapter 4 (titled “A tale of county”) seems to take a slant towards specific British public libraries. Considering the wealth of information available on social networking and the potential it holds for public libraries and the community at large, I would have expected a stronger assessment of the value and potential of social networking for public libraries, rather than dwelling on historical issues. Chapter 5 focuses on a business case approach for Web 2.0, then Chapter 6 shares views on the future and how far social networking might go in public libraries.
Strengths of the book are the notes offered at the end of each chapter, a reasonable good index, and the useful list of references and web resources. Linda Berube is an expert on the topic, and she shares her ideas with passion. In this sense the book is worth reading. It might, however, not quite meet with the expectations of those looking for a concise step-by-step introduction on how to choose, implement and promote the use of social networking in public libraries.
