Thing #13: Tagging

Aren't librarians all about helping to find relevant content for their readers? I think tagging is a great free-form way to augment the formal cataloging that goes on in libraries. People (some of them librarians) often complain that subject headings grow stale and that catalogs aren't able to keep up with how a heading evolves over time.

"Should we encourage or discourage the practice?" Participation in libraries should be rewarded, promoted, given top priority by librarians. And any tools that allow you to easily let patrons participate is a boon. Why would you want to discourage interested folks from adding to the collective consciousness? Patrons who participate will feel ownership and will help defend you from vicious and pernicious politicians when they try to take away your budget. By all means, encourage!




There's a certain fascination on my part with tag clouds that can be generated from tagging. In my mind's eye I get an image of a cloud of gnats buzzing around a book or an article with all the words associated with that item zooming in-&-out of focus or importance as readers add their thoughts to share with everyone. As Spock would say, "Fascinating!"