Foreign libraries in Web 2.0 digital community: User participation types

Abstract

Various types and formats of user participation in the key library processes like cataloging, user services, OPACs are analyzed based on science periodicals and foreign professional journals published in 2010–2020. Foreign library websites well-established within accessible digital environment has been developing, t o a g reat e xtent, a s t he p latforms f or u ser a pplications. This stimulates user extensive involvement in the key library functions like cataloging (social bookmarks, adding records and reviews) and services (social media, blogs, messengers, wiki-resources, podcsts and wordcasts). Being supported by social media resources that offer diverse channels of communication with their users, the libraries make it possible for the users to create new content and transform their services within “the unified participation framework” which is consistent with the modern digital civilization. The analysis of current practice of user participation in indexing a nd s upply o f n ew r esources a nd n ew m etadata s ets t o t he l ibraries, demonstrates that these processes have not been well developed; reviews and ratings have often to be controlled and filtered. The libraries cannot offer substitute to the Web 2 .0 a pps t hat a re in t he w ake o f g lobal d igital c ivilization. The status of social services as libraries’ additional optional services can be changed through increasing their effectiveness.