Week 8: Web 2.0 Awards List Sites - Thing #19

Even the “short list” of the winners of the Web 2.0 Awards presents a daunting challenge to select only one to discover. The interest-peaking names of some sites makes one want to explore them.

There are the social sites—“43 Things” and “Cocktail Builder.” I have some trouble thinking of library applications for “43 Things”; but it is interesting to explore. It gives one an idea of the customer base to which libraries need to relate.

I tried to explore Google Docs & Spreadsheets, but couldn’t get further than the general site information. I went through the procedure to set up an account. Each time it seemed to work, but the page went blank. I checked the FAQs; that provided some instructions on how to change my computer settings to allow “cookies.”

I decided to explore another site; I have already noted earlier in this blog how much I like LibraryThing and can see its potential for use by library customers.

This time, I explored Yelp—Real Reviews by Real People. By entering the city, state, and zip code, one receives a varied and certainly potentially helpful guide to businesses, restaurants, gas stations, etc. in the designated search city—along with a map of the area.

I can see where this information could be more current, and therefore more accurate, than the print travel guides found on library shelves. The information is certainly more specific to the area of interest than one would normally find in a print travel guide that needs to provide similar information for a larger overall area. The personal reviews of restaurants provide a practical level of useful information not found in print travel guides that often seem to be worded with the objective of promoting, and thereby retaining, the publication-supporting businesses listed therein.

This bias works in the online format as well; businesses could add embellished positive reviews for promotional purposes. Submitters of reviews could be voicing their emotions of the experience rather than the professional perspective of the person whose life work is to make these travel reviews. The user of this online information needs to evaluate the reviews accordingly. Still, the site certainly does have appeal and value.