Library 2.0: Balancing the Risks and Benefits to Maximise the Dividends

Following the initial excitement generated by Web 2.0 we are now seeing Web 2.0 concepts being adopted across many sectors, including cultural heritage. Libraries, with their responsibilities for facilitating access to information resources and engaging with their user communities, have been early adopters of Web 2.0, and the term 'Library 2.0' is now becoming accepted. But how should we ensure that the initial enthusiasms for Library 2.0 become embedded within the organisation? And are organisations aware of the potential risks associated with making use of externally-provided services such as Facebook, YouTube and del.icio.us, including misuse of such services, associated legal concerns as well as the dangers of making use of services for which there may be no formal contractual agreements? In this paper the authors argue that the library sector - and indeed the wider cultural heritage, research and educational sectors - needs to recognise that the Web 2.0 world isn't an environment in which delivery of the user needs can be guaranteed. Rather we are in an environment in which institutions, and our users, need to take a risk management approach to the use of networked services. The paper describes a framework which is being developed which aims to ensure that institutions have considered the risks associated with use of Web 2.0 technologies and services and have identified strategies for dealing with potential risks in order to achieve the goal of balancing the risks and benefits in order to maximise the dividends to be gained by use of 'Library 2.0'.