Library Web Site 2.0

Easy Tools For Creating Interactive Sites

Miranda DoyleLibrary Media Teacher

Martin Luther King Middle SchoolSan Francisco Unified School District

What is Web 2.0?

The “social” web – creating communities (MySpace, Facebook, iMeem)

Interactivity – users participate and have conversations (comments on blogs, etc.)

Users contribute and create the content (Flickr, Wikipedia, podcasts)

Users organize the Web for themselves (del.icio.us, Bloglines, social tagging)

What does it mean for library web sites?

A site that tries to “catalog the web” – and hardly ever changes – is unappealing

Users want to “do something” on a website – fill out a form, take a quiz, submit a book review, play a game, post a message, chat with a librarian, etc.

Users want to see their comments and original work published online

Levels of Interactivity -- 1

Provides static information Is the site primarily to provide information about

the school or public library’s services to teens? Many Web sites serve this function. They simply give the library a presence on the Web, and present facts, addresses, hours, contacts, and so on. Users are not invited to contribute or easily able to give feedback. There is no sense of community or interaction.

Levels of Interactivity -- 2

Provides opportunities for interaction This type of site has all the basic information about

the library, plus it offers opportunities for the user to interact with the Web site and with library staff. Users can reserve books, check their library records, use a feedback form for comments and suggestions, submit reviews, fill out online applications, e-mail a librarian with a reference question, etc. Communication is generally initiated by the users and moves only one way, between Web site users and library staff.

Levels of Interactivity -- 3

Creates a community This type of site is fully interactive. Teens are able to

contribute their comments, opinions, book suggestions, artwork, and much more. They are able to start a conversation with each other, not just with the adults who run the library. Librarians may provide content through blogs or online forums, but users have a chance to add their voices. Because the site changes daily, users visit often to see what’s new.

Boosting your Web site to this level requires work, regular maintenance, and a certain degree of risk.

Objection #1: But Who Has That Kind of Time?

Use quick, easy tools like Blogger, Del.icio.us, Flickr, PBWiki, etc. – update your site in minutes (though avoid sites with ads)

Allow students to email items directly to your blog, or post comments (but you will approve them first)

Put your students to work! Train student assistants to post items, moderate comments, and update the web site for you

Objection #2: But People Will Post Inappropriate Things!

Decide how much risk you can tolerate; talk to students about what’s allowed

Set up blogs so that you (or student helpers) moderate all comments and posts before they appear

Don’t use wikis without passwords (try pbwiki.com)

Set Flickr accounts so that only you can add comments, notes, and tags

My library web site – mlkams.org/library.html

Idea #1: Blogs, Blogs, Blogs

Blogger.com + enabled (moderated) comments + email posting = book reviews, discussions, class projects and more

Sign up for a Blogger account – you can set up multiple blogs

Go to settings for each blog and enable comments, but moderated – you must approve them first

Under settings for each blog, click “email” and create a unique email address. Important: If you give this address to students, choose “Save emails as draft posts” so that you can approve them before publication

Student book review blog

Idea #2: All the news. . . .

Blogger.com + email + RSS2Java=Instant news updates -- or newest book reviews

-- on your home page automatically!

Sign up for Blogger and create blog Find your RSS feed -- http://yourblog.blogspot.com/rss.xml Go to www.rss2java.com Paste or type your RSS feed; choose options (I say yes to all, but

you may want only subject lines) Get your Javascript code; copy and paste into your home page Next time you post to your blog (try posting by email; it’s faster),

your post also appears on your web site.

Latest News by RSS Feed

Idea #3: Talk to me!

Weebly contact form or Meebo chat widget = instant communications from your students, no accounts or sign-in needed.

Create an account at Weeby.com Drag “contact form” element onto page All messages go directly to your email accountOR Create an account at meebo.com, then go to meebome.com to

get your widget. Customize the appearance, then copy and past code into your web site

Sign in at Meebo.com to appear as online or to pick up messages sent while you weren’t signed in

Weebly Contact Form

Meebo Widget

Idea #4: Picture this

Flickr badge or Flickrshow embedded in web page = a different photo every visit, or an animated slide show.

Create a Flickr account for library-related photos (or book covers – I do “featured books” this way)

Go to http://www.flickr.com/badge.gne Choose HTML or Flash; choose the photos to

display; customize size and colors Copy and paste your code into your web page OR Go to Flickrshow.com to create an animated

Javascript slide show (warning: may be annoying!)

Flickr Book Reviews

Idea #5: Fast lists of links

Del.icio.us account + tagging buttons = assignment resources in minutes

Sign up for a delicous account Download the buttons – they appear on your

browser bar Bookmark sites, using a unique tag for each

assignment Click on that tag, then copy the URL as your link for

the assignment Add to resource list as questions come up in class;

create a student account and have students add their own favorites as a group project

Delicious Resource List

Idea #6: Just for fun

Polldaddy + your home page = instant polls Create an account at polldaddy.com (or other

polling/survey site – surveymonkey.com is great creating online surveys).

Enter your question, name of your web site, possible answers, etc. Customize the look of your poll.

Copy the javascript created and paste it into your web page.

Instant Poll Results

Getting to Level 3

True community requires instant, unmoderated discussion and posting. This is often difficult in a school, where you may need more control over posts and content

If you can’t create your own, consider directing students to existing book discussion communities on Amazon, MySpace, etc.

Any suggestions? Ideas? What do you do?

For more information. . . .

101+ Great Ideas for Teen Library Web Sites, Neal-Schuman, 2007, 1-55570-593-6

Email me:mirandadoyle at

yahoo.comCall me: 415-330-1500