INLS 490-121: Collaborative Writing Exercise/Library 2.0 and Data
From Pomerantz
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Tim O'Reilly, who has had as big a role in defining Web 2.0 as anyone else, discussed a clear trend toward tighter "control of key data sources" by Web 2.0 companies in his influential article, "What is Web 2.0?" (2005) This trend has continued, and the tension he foresaw between these companies and open web advocates has heightened.
Libraries find themselves in a peculiar position, somewhere in between these two poles of closed and open data. While opinions within the library community vary, much of the sentiment of Library 2.0 tends toward openness in general and therefore Open Data. However, this is a clear fork in the road for defining Library 2.0: the "libraries + Web 2.0" definition breaks down when libraries begin to challenge the nature (and business model) of Web 2.0 development.
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Web 2.0 and Data, from O'Reilly
Data is indeed the Intel Inside of these applications, a sole source component in systems whose software infrastructure is largely open source... as companies begin to realize that control over data may be their chief source of competitive advantage, we may see heightened attempts at control.
We're seeing this play out in places such as Facebook (asserting control over user content) and search engines (gathering and closely keeping data on searchers). For a library example, there's been OCLC (perhaps feeling threatened by LibraryThing) trying to control communally-supplied MARC records.
The race is on to own certain classes of core data: location, identity, calendaring of public events, product identifiers and namespaces.
Librarians, read: corporations are racing to own these classes of data, and profit from them, thus threatening open access to them.
Libraries and Data
Data and Information Access
Libraries are the original data powerhouses, so librarians should know exactly what's at stake here. They are the original collectors and hoarders of unique data. However, the library philosophy of 20th century America made a sharp break from this past, pushing forward the values of public service and universal access. (For most, this is where the roots of Library 2.0 are found.)
From this perspective, corporate control (and especially monopoly control) over data and information systems is a clear threat to library values. For this reason, Library 2.0 must include a call for open and accessible data, as an extension of the Modern Library's call for universal access.
User Data and Privacy
A certain subset of the data in question here is data that is user provided, whether it be personal information or user-contributed content. This type of data has fueled the rise of social networking and much of what is exciting about Web 2.0, but it is also the most sensitive kind of data in terms of privacy and freedom of speech. If Web 2.0 includes a push to collect and keep more personal data, Library 2.0 must take note for both principled and practical reasons.
From the principled end, the ALA has this to say:
Protecting user privacy and confidentiality has long been an integral part of the mission of libraries... confidentiality is crucial to freedom of inquiry. Rights to privacy and confidentiality also are implicit in the Library Bill of Rights’ guarantee of free access to library resources for all users.
If it leaves old structures and patterns behind, Library 2.0 must carry forward this ethic, which in the 20th century and beyond has become an essential tenet of libraries. From a practical standpoint, libraries provide Internet access to a large portion of the networked society, and as such libraries ought to protect and defend the rights of their constituents.
User Data, Social Networks, and Library 2.0
Libraries are struggling to effectively implement and take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies. There is a certain amount of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) about the meshing of libraries and social networks, but there are also some very real concerns.
Libraries would like to harness the value of social networks and collaboration for their users, while also protecting those users' rights to privacy and anonymity. Libraries have a lot of data about their users, and they could collect a lot more data very easily. This information could certainly help libraries serve and connect their users better, but it would also threaten their privacy.
There's no easy solution to this complex situation. It's important that library forays into social networking be guided by principle (the Library Bill of Rights, for one), but it's also important to fully engage new forms of media.
It's also essential to retain the library's status of being trusted by its users. One compromise might be to allow users to opt in to data collection and data-enhanced service, after being fully informed of privacy and data concerns. Library 2.0 users will certainly be able to make sophisticated decisions about their web presence, and this gives them options.
Libraries and the Free Data Movement
Much as the rise of proprietary software led to the Free Software movement, we expect the rise of proprietary databases to result in a Free Data movement within the next decade. One can see early signs of this countervailing trend in open data projects such as Wikipedia, the Creative Commons, and in software projects like Greasemonkey, which allow users to take control of how data is displayed on their computer. (O'Reilly)
This is fairly simple: the movement is here, it's necessary for a culture of freedom and democracy (and thriving libraries), and participation in it should be a core Library 2.0 value. Copyright reform, enhancement of the Public Domain, protection of Fair Use rights, continuing to push for a Read-Write culture: these are all core components of the library of the future. We must fight for and protect them.
References
Tim O'Reilly, "What is Web 2.0?"
[http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/statementsif/interpretations/privacy.cfm
"Privacy," American Library Association, July 07, 2006.]
[http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/patriotreauthorization.cfm
"Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization," American Library Association, July 26, 2006.]

