Web places, like Del.icio.us, that allow users to save favorite or found websites are what I call "new-age" libraries. Subscribers are basically building virtual libraries and maintaining them in a way similar to that of present or past day ones. What's different is that the collection contains one medium (web pages) versus the varying ones collected and maintained currently. Present as well is the overall mission of "sharing".
So in looking at this from the perspective of assisting people with research, the old or past approach librarians used with books is still effective. Which was, to help a student or teacher find a book (website) around a particular topic and then assist them in organizing the information in a way that would allow them to develop and share an effective product. The "name has changed but the game is the same".
There a only few diffences. One that comes to mind is that you now have access to comments made by past readers or users of the information your seeking. For the most part, input from those who used books for research was often nonexistent. Keep in mind, with the latter statement I'm talking physical library, not virtual.
As the saying goes, "its all good". With these tools you're building a reading list that has the potential of having added to it quality articles and insight because a community is part of the package.
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