Usability of web 2.0 functionalities for information dissemination organizations

Nowadays, web 2.0 functionalities offer organizations several opportunities to interact with the web site visitor. Using these new functionalities can result in more profit, extended online services, or improved customer relations. Service organizations, such as academic libraries, can also extent their web site with web 2.0 functionalities to improve the process of dissemination of information. In this research, all students and (academic) staff members of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) were invited to join the survey about the usability of web 2.0 functionalities on the web site of the University Library (EUR). Furthermore, the survey also consisted of an evaluation of the current library web site to discover the essential improvements. The results of 502 respondents indicate the usability of new functionalities like text message (sms) / e-mail notifications, advanced search methods, e-books, and personalization. A focus group, which consisted of five survey respondents, confirmed these findings, and added valuable remarks concerning their needs. Moreover, web 2.0 functionalities are not equally familiar to all respondents; the age is significantly associated with the familiarity of most new functionalities.