Post on 14-Dec-2015
Ohio University Libraries
Reaching Library Users: Delivering Dynamic Library
Content with Blogs and Wikis
Chad F. BoeningerNELINET IT Conference
October 13, 2006
Ohio University Libraries
Outline of Talk
Overview of Blogs and WikisApplications to complement or replace traditional subject guides/pathfindersPromote resources and research skillsPros and Cons of blogs/wikis
Ohio University Libraries
What is a Blog?
Initially a blog was a “log” of one’s daily “web” travelsBlogs became popular as online journalsNow blogs are used for a variety of purposes
Ohio University Libraries
Common Blog Characteristics
Frequently updatedPosts appear in reverse-chronological orderOften theme or topic orientedMany allow commentsSense of communitySyndicated content
Ohio University Libraries
Leveraging Blogs for Libraries
Create Dynamic contentMultiple AuthorsReduce bottleneck of informationGive others ownership of contentSyndicationInternal and External Communication
Ohio University Libraries
Internal Communication
Communicate with department or libraryKeep staff up to dateBuild a knowledgebaseRefblog http://www.library.ohiou.edu/refblog/ (protected)
Ohio University Libraries
External Communication
Communicate with patronsPromote resourcesAnnounce eventsNews Blog http://www.library.ohiou.edu/newsblog/Syndicate Podcasts http://www.library.ohiou.edu/podcasts/
Ohio University Libraries
Subject Blogs
Subject blogs are tailored to a community of usersEncourages knowledge of the community the library/librarian servesEncourages participation from the community
Ohio University Libraries
Content of Subject Blogs
New products, new book lists Promote resourcesResearch hintsContact informationFAQ resources“Nuggets” of Information LiteracyMortar for community building
Ohio University Libraries
Why A Subject Blog
Patrons can check the blog for the most recent entriesPatrons can search the blog (knowledgebase)Librarians can link to posts To make your job easierTo be a better librarian
Ohio University Libraries
Examples of Posts
Supermarket & Grocery Industry TrendsCompany and Industry Research Guides100 Best Companies to Work forTop Business ResourcesApparel Industry ResourcesMutual Funds Resources Video
Ohio University Libraries
Dreams vs. Reality
Originally used to complement research guidesAspirations for comments/ community buildingRSS slow to catch on
Ohio University Libraries
Cons of Blog
Measuring use is difficultWhich posts are being read?RSS is slow to catch onAuthors must regularly generate contentOrganization of archives can be an issueSpam-- Use a filter like Akismet
Ohio University Libraries
What is a Wiki?
A website in which content can be created and edited by a community of usersBest example is WikipediaStrength of the resource is often dependent on the strength of the community
Ohio University Libraries
Wiki as a Research Guide
Previously had 3 research guides• Business Research Guide• International Business Research Guide• Marketing Research Guide
Redundancy of resourcesNo interlinkingMultiple edits of the same content
Ohio University Libraries
Why A Wiki
Incredibly easy to add contentMore room for content and “nuggets”Organize by categoriesSearchableHuge potential for building communityFamiliar interface???
Ohio University Libraries
The Biz Wiki
Organized by area of research needBrowse by category or alphabetSearchable by keywordUsers can edit/add contentInterlinked articles allow for increased access to information
The Biz Wikihttp://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/
Ohio University Libraries
Reference Content
Key reference resourcesGuides to common questionsDefinitions of termsExamples: • Regional Encyclopedia of Business &
Management• Doing Business in Another Country• Company Annual Reports
Ohio University Libraries
Instruction Content
Wikis make excellent teaching toolsReplace class handoutsBroader scope than class specific handoutsExample: Industry Research BasicsExample: Marketing 379 Assignment
Ohio University Libraries
“On the Fly” Content
1. Email question from patron
2. Respond to patron3. Similar question via
IM4. Use content of
previous question to create wiki article
5. Answer is out of email and on the web
6. Easier future access to information
Wiki Article
IM Question Answer Email
Reference Email
Ohio University Libraries
Creating Content
Create an article
Link to the article from another article
Assign a category for the article
Ohio University Libraries
Biz Wiki Usage1 115055Academic Search Premier2 37955 Lexis-Nexis Academic3 21845 PsycINFO4 20621 ERIC5 18874 Business Source Complete6 11456 Science Citation Index 7 11224 JSTOR8 10711 Business and Industry9 9793 BIOSIS Previews10 9605 Education Abstracts
11 8789 AnyWho Directory12 8438 WorldCat13 7897 Medline 14 7883 Hoover's Online15 7577 Factiva16 6774 RefWorks17 6686 Communication & Mass Media Complete18 6087 Biz Wiki19 5911 Mergent Online20 5769 Google
January 1-October 5, 2006
Ohio University Libraries
Feedback on the Wiki
“You weren’t around, so I showed them the Biz Wiki Guide to Doing Business in Another Country, and they were satisfied.”--Reference Librarian“I had no idea how to find a swot analysis, so I just searched for ‘swot’ in the Biz Wiki, and low and behold, you had an article on finding a SWOT analysis.” ---Reference Librarian
Ohio University Libraries
Wiki Challenges
Getting others to contribute• Faculty, students, other librarians
More content = more maintenanceMaintaining organization and structure with growth of contentDifficult to see new contentSpam, Spam, and more Spam
Ohio University Libraries
Other Wiki Applications
Internal Communication and Knowledgebase
Campus/Community collaboration tool
Course content management system
Ohio University Libraries
Blogs and Wikis
Extend the reach of the librarian• Promote sources• Teach research skills
Make the job of the librarian easierMake information and knowledge more accessiblePotential for contributing to the academic learning community
Ohio University Libraries
Lessons Learned
Blogs and wikis take time
Blogs and wikis save time for librarians and patrons
Blogs and wikis can make you a better/more effective librarian
Ohio University Libraries
More Lessons Learned
Don’t be surprised if usage is different than you expected
Don’t expect to be “cool” because you have a blog or wiki
Patrons/Community will appreciate your work
Ohio University Libraries
Future of Blogs and Wikis
Gather measurable feedback from users (librarians, students, faculty)Record usage of library resourcesInvestigate Other Uses• Student Research Blogs/Wikis• First-year experience wiki
Ohio University Libraries
Special Thanks
Alden Library Reference StaffAlden Library Systems StaffNumerous Library BloggersOhio University Business researchers