Web 2.0 and Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software

By Sarah, Darby, Beth, Jen, and AndrewNovember 19, 2009

What is Web 2.0 for?

Communication Personal connections Creating community Expanding services cheaply

What is Web 2.0?

It’s the stuff you find yourself doing when you’re supposed to be writing a paper.

- Flickr- Blogs- Wikis and Wikipedia- RSS

Web 2.0 is all about…

Openness Ease of Use Innovation Creation Sharing Social Interaction Participation Decentralization

But everybody knows that…

“Libraries have historically been places to receive information but with some exception, less places to contribute information.”

- Jessamyn West, Librarian.net

Web 2.0 + Libraries = Library 2.0

Use what’s out there to help you do what you’re already doing

Get a step ahead Bring in the outside world Take it seriously

RSS

Like “automated web surfing,” RSS allows users to keep abreast of interesting updates without visiting individual sites.

This has value to libraries through: linking to other sites (such as news, weather,

etc) on the library web page. Library-specific RSS feeds

http://triadprstore.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/rss-button-prstore.jpg

Creating library-specific RSS feeds

Check out the following aggregators: BlogPluse (www.blogpulse.com) PubSub (http://www.pubsub.com) Techorati (http://technorati.com) Feedster (http://www.feedster.com)

Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging, a real time synchronous conversation between two people via the internet, is becoming increasingly useful to libraries.

IM can be a powerful tool for reference. Some users may be embarrassed to ask questions, and prefer

the anonymity of IM Be sure to Train staff; after all, it’s still a reference interview. Check out Meebo through RUL Promote, Promote, Promote!

Give your IM service a web presence Put chat names on business cards, & the library web page For more info check out: http://

www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Online_Reference

Blogs and Libraries

Purposes of Library Blogs

Blogs used by libraries fall mostly into two broad categories: Blogs that serve the public by

promoting library services, collections, and events

Blogs that serve library staff by facilitating communication (like an intranet or email list).

Library Blogs for the Public

Why use blogs to communicate with the public? Allow two-way communication with users Create transparency regarding library decisions (e.g.

updates for large construction projects) Gather information in one place Introduce staff to the public (e.g. profiles)

What do libraries put on their blogs? Announcements of events and service updates (e.g.

changes in library hours) Information for a particular user group (e.g. teens,

graduate students)  Links to database trials, new subscriptions, and

underutilized resources

Example of a successful library blog for the public

Ann Arbor Public Libraryhttp://www.aadl.org/

Staff Blogs

Why use blogs for staff communication? Reduce email and email-related problems (e.g.

lost emails, messages stuck in spam filters) Centralize staff information in one easy-to-find

location, rather than scattered throughout emails

Facilitate direct conversation on a topic via comments

Provide an opportunity and incentive (or requirement) for staff to become proficient in blogging and other Web 2.0 technologies.

Best Practices for Library Blogs

Train your staff adequately and establish style guidelines for consistency and clarity (e.g. avoiding library jargon, using consistent acronyms or none at all).

Designate a point person to offer some editorial oversight on public blog posts,

Integrate the blog with the library’s website by providing easy links to the library catalog and other features.

Use “soft opening” techniques to introduce your blog to the public. Launch by putting the blog up, adding a few posts, and adding links from the home page…then really ramp up advertising after a few weeks of regular posting from staff and/or users.

Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

Wikis

Features: Article Page-editing mode Talk or discussion pages History page(s) Edit or view source option Search function

Wiki Types: Single-user wiki Lab book Collaborative writing Knowledge base

What can libraries do with wikis?

Subject guides Project planning Policy manuals Resource listings Training resources

Bethlehem Public Library created a wiki to keep track of links to online resources.

“We were trying to do this by group e-mail but found that we were just ‘gunking up’ each other’s inboxes.” Now the team can view the wiki for new posts at their convenience.

Geoffrey Kirkpatrick, Head of Circulation and Tech Services

Implementing Wikis

Choose software & determine a hosting option Server installation Software for hosting online

Google Sites, http://sites.google.com/ Pbwiki, http://pbwiki.com Seedwiki, www.seedwiki.com

Open-source options Mediawiki, www.mediawiki.org

Implementing Wikis Set goals, authors, and monitors

Set logins & passwords or open it to everyone

Take the time to train & promote People won’t use it if they don’t know it’s

there! Encourage experimentation Tip: Use wiki software that generates

RSS feeds so that changes in articles may be easily monitored.

LibSuccess Wikihttp://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

Flickr

An image-hosting online community Began as an online game but is now a way for

people to upload and share photos “What was once the digital equivalence of a

shoebox became a vibrant community built around photos and a vast collaborative effort to produce an infinite scrapbook.”

Registered users can comment on photos, create image “pools” around a central theme, and select favorite pictures.- Levy, S. & Stone, B. (April 3, 2006). The new wisdom of the web. Newsweek. www.msnbc.msn.com. As cited in LTR report.

Benefits & Fun Features of Flickr

Easy to place images in blogs and websites with Flickr’s code generator

Increase the odds of being found by tagging photos with library’s name and location

Set privacy levels & access Select other Flickr users as contacts & subscribe to

their feeds Upload to Flickr from e-mail, computer, or cell phone Group images into sets to tell the story of an event Add notes to images Create promotional materials – posters, billboards,

magazine covers, trading cards, etc.

5 Hints for Using Flickr in Libraries

Allow Flickr access on library computers Add tags, notes, & comments Create a profile in Flickr for the library Tell stories: showcase library programs Use photos to put a human face on the library’s online presence

LiB Trading Card

http://www.flickr.com/photos/librariansass/185866106/

New Brunswick Public Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nbfpl/

Highland Public Library (Illinois)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/highlandparklibrary/2938437883/

New York Public Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/

New York Public Library’s Tags

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/tags/

http://sjcpl.lib.in.us/

How to get staff on board

Listen! Involve! Tell! Share! Report! Research! Manage! Meet! Play! Celebrate!