ABSTRACT
With the growth of Web 2.0 library intranets in recent years, many libraries are leaving behind legacy, first-generation intranets. As Web 2.0 intranets multiply and mature, how will traditional intranet best practices—especially in the areas of planning, implementation, and evaluation—translate into an existing Web 2.0 intranet infrastructure? This article explores traditional intranet theories and best practices in relation to the two generations of the Web 2.0 intranet at the Technical Services Department at the Miami University Libraries. The case study explores the evaluation of the first-generation Web 2.0 intranet (implemented in 2005) and the planning and implementation of the second-generation Web 2.0 intranet in 2008. While the technologies are different, the case study shows many of the best practices established for traditional intranets still hold true for the Web 2.0 intranets in the case study. Following many of the traditional best practices helped the second Web 2.0 intranet to succeed, while not following established practices hurt the first Web 2.0 intranet’s ability to meet departmental expectations of information access and information currency. Nonetheless, there are issues specific to Web 2.0 intranets that are not covered in existing best practices. More input is needed before establishing Web 2.0-specific intranet best practices.
