Sustainable Web 2.0 Services for Small and Underfunded Libraries

1
Sustainable Web 2.0 Services for Small and
Underfunded Libraries

• Sarah Houghton-Jan, MA, MSLIS
• Digital Futures Manager, San José Public Library
• Author of LibrarianInBlack.net

2

• Let's start with some questions.

3

• Why is it important to focus on online services
  and resources?
• No...really. Why?

4
Library Users Today
brick and mortar library users
digital library users
POWER USERS
This group is growing dramatically.
This group is growing slowly.
5
Library Users Tomorrow
digital library users
brick and mortar library users
POWER USERS
Angry Robot courtesy of www.bohdate.com/angryrobot
6
Digital Library User Activity
Annual per capita usage for 2006 at two
California public library systems
7

• Sarah's 15 Steps to a
• Better Web Presence
• (that almost every library can do)?

8
(No Transcript)
9

• Planning for New Web Services

10
1 Advocate to Your Leadership
11
Why is the eBranch important?

• The eBranch is the library's most public face
• Libraries are digital centers in our communities
• A library without a substantial digital face
  positions itself for future lack of support

12
Why does the eBranch rock?

• eBranch can be open 24/7, and for all users.
• eBranch is c-h-e-a-p
• Minimal staffing
• Rent and maintenance vs. web hosting
• Cheaper materials ( no processing/shelving)?
• Almost limitless free services to use
• Highest return on investment in use vs. dollars

13
2 A (Wo)Man, A Plan, a...Library?

• Duo of Successful Library Tech Planning
• 1) Technology Hierarchy of Needs
• 2) Formal 3-Year Technology Plan

14
Technology Hierarchy of Needs
15
Successful Technology Plans

• Ask, ask, ask.
• Survey users and staff.
• Follow your Hierarchy of Needs.
• Plan no more than 3 years out.

16
3 How to Implement New Tech

• Everything can be a pilot!
• Appoint project manager who...
• ...creates a project plan.
• Extensive staff training.
• Constant communication.

17
Tech Project Plans are Easy...
Can get more explicit on costs for staff time,
breaking items down further.
18
(No Transcript)
19

• Web Services
• to Start With

20
4 Talk with your customers

• Instant messaging
• MeeboMe Widget
• Trillian Astra Widget
• Text messaging
• Voice Over IP (VOIP)?
• Video Chat

21
Answering any and all questions...
Photo by (Tres) http//flickr.com/photos/estarsid
/842914707/
22
UNLV's IM Service
23
MeeboMe Widget
24
Take Meebo a Step Further
Screenshot courtesy of David Lee King, Topeka
Shawnee County Public Library
http//www.flickr.com/photos/davidking/2076505032/
sizes/o/
25
Southeastern Louisiana University Text Messaging
Reference Program
26
(No Transcript)
27
5 Offer Tools and Mash Ups

• People are mashing up your library's content. Be
  Aware.
• Library ELF Library account tracking and alerts
  via e-mail RSS
• Library LookUp click on this bookmarklet when on
  a webpage with an ISBN to look up item in the
  catalog
• LibX Toolbar Direct access in web browser to
  catalog and more (other toolbars too)?

28
Library Elf
29
6 Make Dynamic Lists

• So long to the .DOC book lists!
• Use blogs or wikis
• Recommended movies, music, books
• Encourage full staff participation
• Use an entry template, tags, categories
• Welcome customer comments

30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
7 Give Your Library a Face

• Flickr and other photo sharing sites show what
  the library is really about
• library's interior and exterior (photo tour)?
• staff
• customers
• new services and resources
• anything you can think of!

33
(No Transcript)
34
Decatur Public Library
35
Oomph your photos...

• Flickr' Do More with Your Photos page
• Flickr Badges and Slideshows
• Moo calling cards, sticker books, note cards,
  etc.
• HP posters, books, photo cubes
• Qoop calendars, keychains, back-up discs
• Zazzle shirts, bags, mousepads, mugs, etc.
• Imagekind print photos on canvas

36
(No Transcript)
37
Nashville Public Library's Teen Web
38
8 Provide audio content

• Podcasting
• people who can talk and/or sing
• digital microphone (free)
• Audacity (free)
• a Blogger blog (free)?
• Everyzing () turns audio and video files into
  text
• Odiogo (free) turns text into audio files,
  create a listen button for blogs

39
Some ideas for podcasts

• University of Sheffield audio library tours
• WSU database and catalog searching tutorials
• Thomas Ford Memorial Library teen book reviews
• Pierce County Library staff book reviews
• Worthington Library kids songs and rhymes
• Cornell University Library recorded events

40
9 Provide video content

• Videocasting
• people who aren't camera-shy
• digital video camera (100)?
• Avidemux editing software (free)?
• a Blogger blog (free)?
• 5.2 MP Samsonic for 128
• _at_ NuLime.com

41
Some ideas for videocasts

• Manchester Public Library teen book reviews
• DOK Library community events reports
• Worthington Libraries classes and events
• Curtin University Library classes and lectures

42
(No Transcript)
43
10 Exploit the blog as a format

• Dont call it a blog
• Encourage comments!
• Reuse content across blogs, social networks
• Repeat important posts over time
• WordPress and Blogger
• Free
• Easy
• Feature-rich

44
Examples of Good Blogs

• St. Joseph County Public Library Game Blog
  www.libraryforlife.org/gameblog/
• Framingham Public Library Teen Blogomatic
  fplya.blogspot.com/
• Providence Public Library Computer Class Blog
  provlibcomputerclass.blogspot.com/
• Western Springs History www.westernspringshistory
  .org
• What about those URLs?

45
(No Transcript)
46
(No Transcript)
47
(No Transcript)
48
11 Help your catalog (it needs it)?

• Open source options
• Koha
• Evergreen
• Scriblio
• LibraryFind (metasearch)?
• Cant change ILS? Consider an overlay
• AquaBrowser ()?
• Endeca ()?
• LibraryThing for Libraries (little )?
• VuFind (open source, free)?
• WorldCat Local ()?

49
AquaBrowser
50
LibraryThing for Libraries
51
Hennepin County Library
52
12 Be present in social networks

• Be present
• Be real
• Be reliable and continuously new

53
(No Transcript)
54
(No Transcript)
55
Mount Saint Vincent University Library
Facebook Flyer image by Stanislav Orlav
http//www.cla.ca/divisions/cacul/regenerations/20
08/01/libraries-on-facebook-should-we-or.html
Tutt Library
10 5000 Facebook Flyers to targeted audiences
Facebook Flyer image by Steve Lawson
http//www.flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary/154657720
0
56
13 Tap EngagedPatrons.org

• Free and low-cost Web 2.0 services for libraries
• run by Glenn Peterson (Hennepin County Library)?
• Library Events Calendar with online registration
• Library blogs
• Google Maps mashup for library locations
• Library contact form
• RSS feeds
• Custom web-enable databases

57
(No Transcript)
58
(No Transcript)
59
(No Transcript)
60
(No Transcript)
61

• OK Miss Fancy Pants, Then What?

62
14 Keep everything current

• www.flickr.com/photos/ogman/252251866/

63
15 Re-evaluation

• Survey users and staff 6 months into the pilot
• How much staff time is being used?
• How much is the service being accessed?
• Has adequate marketing been done yet?
• What would you change?
• Other issues?
• Choose to continue, discontinue, or extend the
  pilot for another brief period.

64
and 15 (2.0) CELEBRATE!
Photos by Homer Township Library
http//flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/433104519/
and http//flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/43310224
0/in/photostream/
65
Thank you!

• Sarah Houghton-Jan
• Email LibrarianInBlack_at_gmail.com
• IM LibrarianInBlack
• Web LibrarianInBlack.net