Here's a very interesting article and a commentary on the article, both about metaphors and new ways of thinking about information tools:

summary/commentary by Jean Graef of the Montague Institute:
http://www.montague.com/POV/1205.htm

Article: "Interface Lift" by Amy Wohl, in IEEE Spectrum (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers):
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/print/2157

These seem to address (or at least touch on) what many of us would like to do (organize all the personal information in our lives so it's accessible and doesn't drive us crazY).

One of the metaphors mentioned is "personal knowledge management programs." They point out an interesting looking new program called EverNote (no Mac version yet it looks like, but one is supposedly on the way).
The library metaphor is interesting and relevant too. Flickr & Delicious also get mentioned.