Posts There is a proposal currently for discussion on Wikipedia that the entry for “Library 2.0” be deleted from Wikipedia.
Initial proposal says that it is…
“A neologism coined by a blogger and used by bloggers, not notable Lurker “
The people I’d expect have jumped in and defended it, using the arguments I’d expect. They cite legitimate academic articles to show how the term has escaped the bilbioblogosphere. It is now being used by librarians who have never read a blog in their lives, to describe a change in our profession.
In itself, it’s an interesting debate about the “Library 2.0″ concept …is it just the “2.0″ label whacked on the end of another concept, to form a buzzword…or is it a shorthand to describe a new way of serving our clients?
I’m also enjoying learning about how Wikipedia works as a living, breathing “debate” and reflecting about what this means for “set truths” found in an encyclopedia like Wikipedia. I don’t remember any entry in my print version of Encyclopedia Britannica changing from one reading to the next. Does this lead to more or less certainty about the veracity of the facts?
I was just as fascinated watching the “discussion” page for Steve Irwin‘s entry immediately after his death.
found via Panlibus…
TODAY’S HIPPIE CARD: Wake Up
Wikipedia, with a 97% share of the online encyclopedia market, has forced Microsoft to shut down Encarta. How long will it be before Wikipedia claims the prize scalp of Encyclopaedia Britannica?
Encyclopaedia Britannica did not think that an open source product like Wikipedia would significantly challenge the credibility of its brand. They were dead wrong and Encyclopaedia Britannica’s staff seriously misread the global market. They are now very concerned about the widespread use of a free Wikipedia vs their paid subscription model. From a corporate and financial perspective, Encyclopaedia Britannica is in significant trouble.
It will be interesting to see if Encyclopaedia Britannica survives, but recent indications do not look good. It is the combination of a) the success of Wikipedia and b) improved search engines that has put financial pressure on Encyclopedia Britannica over recent years. Many libraries, schools & individuals are questioning the need to pay for sets of expensive books, or to subscribe to Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, when the content is free on the internet, and much more comprehensive.