pros and cons of tagging
There are actually quite a few cons to tagging in a library environment, but lets start with the pros. First of all adding tagging can really aid in natural language searching of the catalog. With more keywords to start with the chances are better that a user can find what they are looking for without giving up too quickly. Tagging also gets users involved with the library. Aside from being practically useful tagging can help make the library feel like a more enjoyable place to work online. OPACs tend to have quite a sterile impersonal quality to them and tagging can help develop a more human face to the library.
The cons can be many however. Without a large user base, tagging can be weighed down with false or misleading terms. Although allowing users to tag with approved terms that follow natural language can mitigate this it also detracts from the ability of tagging to meaningfully alter taxonomy.
Another con is that someone is going to have to monitor the tags for obscentiy. While this position might not have existed before it is certainly going to have to become someone's duty. Perhaps adding an approval process to the proceedure would cut down on the amount of foul language one would have to assume it would exist.
Processes and proceedures would have to be developed in order to manage the increased data that tagging would eventually develop. Getting the assistance of IT would be essential in this and if there is conflict between the Library and IT the effectiveness of tagging could be mitigated.
