Finally, and briefly, I want to look at an example of what I have been waiting through this whole blog project to see. The University of Michigan Library integrates tagging into its catalog. To navigate to this tool from the homepage, all you have to do is a search (say, a keyword search for “fudge”), and scroll to the bottom of the entry page for the tag cloud. At the bottom, there will either be a cloud of tags or a message inviting you to click to be the first to add a tag. In multiple entries, I found that there were no tags yet.

Another way to find the tagging tool, is to go to the “I need to find…” section, and choose a category. The category page has a tagging tab (conveniently “branded” with a store tag icon). I chose “All tags” from this drop-down menu, which took me to the MTagger page. This page displays all used tags in a cloud but also has an alphabetical tag browsing option. This alphabetical option, would increase usability for the user new to tagging and tag clouds. I was able to find an entry that did have tags by navigating to it from the tag cloud.

Another helpful tool that the library has added to each entry is the user descriptions. Users can add personal descriptions about the item and share them on the OPAC. The tagging and the user descriptions (which don’t seem to be searchable, but would still be helpful when doing research) add to the value of the existing classification and taxonomies.  Given that both tools are fairly young, I also had a hard time finding any entries that already have user descriptions.  I do think that this will catch on, though.  I would definitely use it, and it would be easy for a user new to the tool to figure out, since it is just like adding a quick comment, and works with the regular library login.

The library does have RSS feeds, so the tagging is not alone in the UM Libraries “Web 2.0″ world. I think that tagging fits in with any library that has an OPAC on its website. Tagging in the catalog just allows the users to add (and access) another dimension of search capability. I would definitely make use of searching through tags (once there were more entries tagged), but alongside my use of the traditional cataloging tools, keywords, LCSHs, classification, and taxonomies.

As my blog concludes, I feel I’ve learned a lot about what is currently going on in libraries to address changes in technology and to incorporate burgeoning “Web 2.0″ tools. I’m not sure I’ve become a lasting blogger but I have found some new blogs to add to my personal feeds. I’ll be keeping my eye on updates that mention tagging and social bookmarking in the library.