LibrariesLibraries

in a Web 2.0 Worldin a Web 2.0 World

Web 2.0 is about the more human aspects of interactivity. It’s about conversations, interpersonal networking, personalization, and individualism…Such technologies as are listed below serve as the emerging foundation for Web. 2.0:

·         RSS (really simple syndication)·         Wikis·         New and revised programming methods like AJAX and APIs·         Blogs and blogging ·         Commentary and comments functionality·         Personalization and “My Profile” features

--Stephen Abram, September 30, 2009

.--Sarah Houghton.--Sarah Houghton

Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.

Library 2.0 is primarily about getting information to the public. As the following examples will show, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and similar sites all serve the same purpose: making the public aware of the library.

Why is this important? According to Rubin “…people will seek the most convenient source to meet their information need, even when they realize that this source may produce information of lower quality than other sources”.

A simple answer to “Why?” is “because that’s where people are looking for information”.

“…Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers. The company develops technologies that facilitate the sharing of information through the social graph, the digital mapping of people's real-world social connections.” –Facebook Factsheet

Overview

In the Library

According to Gorman and Suellentrop, “Today, most libraries have…a presence on Facebook”, and these libraries are using Facebook as a method of connecting with Teens, both inside and outside the library.

The Young Adult Library Services Association had this to say on the benefits of social networks: “They are an ideal environment for teens to share what they are learning or to build something together online. The nature of the medium allows teens to receive feedback from librarians, teachers, peers, parents, and others. Social networking technologies create a sense of community (as do the physical library and school) and in this way are already aligned with the services and programs at the library and/or school.”

In the Library, Continued

YALSA goes on to say:

“Teens who are not traditional library users learn about and use thelibrary through the Facebook Fan page because they are familiarand comfortable with the technology. Teens make the library one oftheir Facebook friends and then are reminded of the librarywhenever they log onto their space”.

Libraries are facing many concerns over the use of Facebook, including:

· “Facebook is fun and topical, which may be slightly at odds with using it professionally

· Concerns over the appropriateness of using social spaces for professional activities because this may not be welcomed by users

· Concerns over privacy and security issues· Concerns over the commercial nature of the site· Staff development issues - a need to spend time learning how to use social

networking properly to recognize their potential”

Concerns

——Jane SeckerJane Secker

In its most basic form, a blog is a website that allows users to post information to a blog site, usually arranged by date.

“Blogs can be anything their creators want them to be, from newsy to deeply personal, argumentative to poetic” (Williams, Sawyer)

RSS, which can stand for “Really Simple Syndication”, is a technology that scans the web for multiple specific sites, such as blogs, and pulls the updates from these sites to a single user-specified page .

Blogs & RSS

In the library setting, blogs can take any number of forms. There can be a blog about special events at the library, blogs from various staff members, such as a Children’s Librarian blog, or even a blog for the card catalogue. Courtney suggests that libraries build blogs into their system as a way of getting people personally involved in their library.

A quick web search will result in hundreds of library blogs, ranging from Yale Law Library Blogs, to the New York Public Library Blog “Illuminating collections and services at the New York Public Library”.

Blogs In the Library

Podcasting

A podcast is an audio program distributed over the internet. An easy way to think of a podcast is like a blog that has been recorded and read aloud. Podcasts and blogs can both cover the same topic, and are complimentary ways of getting your message to the general public.

Podcasting in the Library

•Give weekly updates about what is going on in your library•Review new books and follow by interviews with patrons who have read the books•Start a teen-driven podcast •Podcast computer classes•Provide library tours via podcast•Use podcasts to provide professional development for staff

- Kajewski

Podcasting

Podcasting doesn’t just have to be someone reading the library newsletter over light flute music. For a novel use of podcasting, look no further than Alden Library at Ohio University.

“Let us talk you through the many departments of Alden Library! Listen to these MP3 files as we walk through library floor by floor and introduce you to the things we have and things we do. Or, just listen at your desk and explore later. There is about fifteen minutes of audio, and walking the tour should take you about thirty minutes.”

Click link for Podcast

Podcasting

Make a podcast of your own through a free web service such as podomatic.com. All you need is a microphone and a computer, and this website handles all the rest, including hosting. It’s a good place to get started if you’re thinking about doing a podcast for your library, but aren’t that familiar with the technology.

About

“Twitter, combines blogging, short message service and e-mail into one micro communication product.Tweets, Twitter communications can be imbedded in web sites including social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace.” -Jacobs

Twitter in the Library

Libraries that use Twitter primarily use it as an additional broadcast medium, as a kind of supplement to Facebook or the library newsletter. As an example of this type of use, see the Library of Congress twitter feed.

Sarah Milstein proposes using Twitter as a reference tool in the library. Users tweet a reference question, and a librarian tweets the answer back. The obvious disadvantage of such a system is the fact that some questions can’t be answered in 140 characters or less.

Criticisms about Library 2.0 are difficult to find because people and institutions are just now examining how these sites and programs are performing. In this case, when we talk about difficulties with Library 2.0, we’re talking about technology issues.

•Increasing Cost in Time. Time training and moderating•Conflict between regular staff, and those hired or specially trained for Web 2.0 products•Reluctance of Staff to work with new technology•Usage: is the public that interested in a library blog?•May be limited by lack of interaction

So is this it for Library 2.0? Of course not. As I hope you’ve picked up on by now, Library 2.0 encompasses a wide array of concepts. Social networking has probably brought about the most visible change, but by no means the only one. Technology has changed, and is changing, the profession is ways both great and small.

Mary is up next to talk about the technological change in library catalogues, and Kristen will discuss ways that the advent of new technology is changing the traditional role of librarianship.

Let’s move on!

GOAL – to make patrons happy

MEANS – Library Catalog

OPERATOR – Patron/Librarian

OPAC – Online Public Access Catalog

WPopac – OPAC embedded in WordPress

SOPAC – Social OPAC

An OPAC is part of your Integrated Library System.

PROS EASY

UNIFORM

ACCURATE (?)

FREES STAFF TIME FOR OTHER TASKS

CONS Does record fit your library? Misspellings Alternate title info Patron frustration with inability to find books

on OPAC Librarian frustration with inability to find

books on OPAC

Better Catalog Records

Patron Tags/Recommendations/Reviews

Better Catalog Software

Better Training (for Patrons and Staff)

Proprietary◦ LibraryThing for Libraries◦ BibTip (Recommendations only; no Tags)◦ Endeca◦ Encore◦ AquaBrowser

Open Source◦ WPopac aka WordPress◦ VuFind◦ Drupal

Promotes involvement with library community

Provides anonymity to contributer

If LTFL, can import “critical mass”

Common, not specialized, language can improve access to library materials.

Personal tags

Anonymity for contributer

Staff time to oversee

Tendency to use broad descriptors

ARE ENHANCED OPACS PIGS WITH

LIPSTICK?

COST – of software, hardware (if any), staff and training

ADAPTABILITY – Can your catalog look and work the way you want?

PRIVACY CONCERNS

AMAZON

LIBRARYTHING (NOT FOR LIBRARIES)

GOODREADS

The purpose of Library 2.0 is to create an interactive library experience, where users are empowered to engage in discussions with the information provided, with each other, and with the librarians. Unfortunately, most library websites have forgotten to invite their patrons into this conversation, hoping that when their users stumble upon them they will be inspired to join.  ... (swegene1, May, 2009)

Simmons - LIS 488 - Technology for Information Professionals

Univ. of Wisconsin - LIS 644 Digital Tools, Trends, and Debates

Syracuse University - Certificate of Advance Use in Digital Libraries

ALA Accreditation I.2.9 the role of library and information services in a rapidly changing technological society;

Combines the traditional aspects of librarianship with the technology skills of an information technologist

“...librarians need to be able to act a a bridge between the tech world and the library world.” - Meredith Farkas, Distance Learning Librarian

-Systems Librarian (Babson College)Responsible for the operation, support, upgrade, integration, maintenance and administration of a variety of library technologies, including hardware, specialized library application and web services. Participates in research and instruction services, and serves as a library liaison to a specific academic division.

- Librarian, Electronic Serials (Angelo State Univ., TX) Uses the Library’s online system and other resources to perform a variety of tasks related to providing online journal access. Troubleshoots problems with access to online journals, using third-party software to check the accuracy of links in the Library’s online catalog. Identifies problems and seeks resolution with other library units to resolve conflicts or inaccuracies in the online catalog and the campus portal related to access to online resources. Performs copy cataloging of online journals and other online resources, using bibliographic record loads (from Serials Solutions®) or other resources.

-Emerging Technologies Librarian (Norris Medical Library, CA)

The Norris Medical Library is seeking an energetic librarian to provide leadership and expertise in designing, developing and supporting the library’s virtual presence. It is essential that the librarian be a highly inquisitive individual who thrives on exploring new technologies and has the ability to create and suggest useful applications in an information/knowledge environment. The librarian is primarily responsible for identifying, evaluating, implementing and teaching the use of new technologies to improve information access and learning materials to support the library’s mission. Additionally, the Emerging Technologies Librarian manages the web sites for the Norris Medical Library and the Wilson Dental Library; develops and maintains the system architecture; leads the library web team; collaborates with other librarians and reports to the Associate Director of Systems and Information Technology.

-www.ala.org

In addition to regular duties, librarians are now finding themselves responsible for duties relating to the internet:

Web-site maintenance Staff Training Troubleshooting Hardware, network configurations, Software Apps Assisting patrons with internet related issues

“A modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with the new computer technologies in a healthy manner.” - Nina Davis-Mills

“A common problem for reference librarians....a combination of performance anxiety, information overload, role conflicts, and organizational factors.” - John Kupersmith

-Free to Public-Does not require a library card-Offered classes include: Introduction to the computer, internet and email, basic web navigation and a class on how to use the library’s catalog

-Ebay: Buying & Selling-Blogging -Learning to use the web-Google basics-Excel, Word, Powerpoint-Protecting your computer

Authority - Who wrote the page and what are their

credentials?

Currency - Page should be dated and recent

Accuracy or Bias - Who put up the page and why?

Follow the $

Commercialism - If site is selling something and only

information is needed, beware.

Scope - Is your question answered and in enough depth?

-Irene McDermott, author of The Librarian’s Internet Survival Guide

Started in 1995 in an LIS graduate class at the University of Michigan with 2 intentions: 1) to ask some interesting and important questions about the interconnections of libraries, librarians, and librarianship with a distributed networked environment, and (2) to learn a lot about these issues by actually designing and building something called the Internet Public Library.

In 2006, IPL partnered with other Library Schools to form the IPL Consortium. Participating Universities and Colleges include:

Univ. of Illinois, Florida State Univ., Rutgers, Syracuse, Univ. of Texas, Univ. of Washington, Kent State, St. John’s Univ., Univ. of Wisconsin, Drexel College

MISSIONThe Internet Public Library is a global information community that provides in-service learning and

volunteer opportunities for library and information science students and professionals, offers a

collaborative research forum, and supports and enhances library services through the provision of authoritative collections, information assistance,

and information instruction for the public.

www.ipl.org

http://www.ipl.org

Collections of nearly 45,000 links E-mail reference service An educational and research laboratory for

librarians Resources for adults and children Magazines, Newspapers, & Journals Subject Collections: Arts & humanities,

Business, Computers, Education, Leisure, Health, Law & Government, Regional, Science, Social Science

http://www.ipl.org

Service is free to all—questions from around the world and people of all ages

Questions answered by trained library students and professional volunteers

Use free sites and sometimes refer to print or subscription sources (local resources when possible)

http://www.ipl.org

Link to free online sites

All links selected and reviewed by library science graduate students—must meet our collection policies

Sites indexed and abstracted

Subject collections as well as special features and exhibits

“The transformation’s been in what we work with, not who we are”

-Topsy Smalley, Public Services Librarian

Did You Know 4.0?