Web 2.0, Library2.0 and the future of libraries

I believe Web 2.0 applications can be used for many things in today's and future libraries.
Libraries are fast becoming users of technology. From the many articles I looked at while searching Google Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries, it is easy to see that if libraries are to stay relevant in the technological future we need to be incorporating Web 2.0 tools into our services.

There are so many ways that Blogs, Wikis, RSS feeds, podcasts, video and downloadable audio can be used. You can create blogs to allow patrons to share their reading lists, favorite websites etc, podcasts and video to produce book trailers & virtual library tours to help them find their way around the services offered. I believe the only thing that will limit libraries in the future will be the failure of staff to embrace these new technologies and continually learn to incorporate them into the services offered.

Tagging has many different applications.Delicious is a social bookmarking service that allows you to tag, save, manage and share Web pages all in one place. With emphasis on the power of the community, Delicious greatly improves how people discover, remember and share on the Internet.With Delicious you can access any bookmarked sites on the Internet from anywhere, it doesn't have to be the same computer. You can easily share your bookmarks with friends who also use Delicious.
Folksonomies are another form of tagging.They are used to tag photos on sites such as flickr. They appear to used more broadly and could cause some confusion when people are searching for pacific content.

Technorati tags are used to keep track of blogs. A tag is a keyword or short phrase that writers assign to articles to describe or identify the content: the subject matter, the people involved, the type of article, themes addressed. This helps people searching for a particular type of content to find articles using those tags.

Podcasting is a convenient way of automatically downloading audio or video files to your computer. You can then play this audio or video on your computer or transfer the files to a portable MP3 or video player.
'Podcast' generally refers to audio. 'Video Podcast' (or 'Vodcast') refers to the distribution of video files in the same manner.

After having a look at some different podcasts it is easy to see how they could be used in Libraries. One use is for tutorials to give library tours. The Library at Charles Sturt University has a number of different podcasts to help students to find their way around. Two that I thought were good and could be adapted to use in any library were:
Services for DE Students 09/09/09
Ever wondered exactly what the library can do for you as a Distance Education student but don't have time to search our website? This podcast is just for you!

http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/how-to/podcasts/

Five Borrowing Tips 28/01/2010
Will library fines stop you from borrowing? Do you need a library card to borrow from the library? Can you borrow from a local University library? Listen in this week and find out!

http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/how-to/podcasts/

Book trailers would be another way to incorporate 'video podcasts' and of course ebooks are a form of Downloadable audio.

I cannot see any disadvantages from incorparating these technologies into Libraries other than the time needed to train staff and users to take them on board. In the long term I don't see these as disadvantages as I believe the skills learnt will be used to the benefit of all.