Information with a Twist

Social networking and other Web 2.0 technologies led the social whirl of the information industry. Publishers and librarians tried to keep their products and services relevant by mixing authoritative content with user involvement, but that was not enough. Enhancing interfaces, adding new forms of content, and making strategic acquisitions--all are necessary to ensure that the information industry party continues. This article cites how several vendors and libraries are making efforts to dress up their databases and products in order to attract users to their services. New training programs, new interfaces, ebooks, planning tools, multiple-language content, prepackaged searches, and search widgets are just some of the methods being utilized to aid researchers and consumers. (Contains 1 table.)