"Biulding academic library 2.0" video OLJ Task

Berkley Presentation and talk by Meredith Farkas: "Building academic Library 2.0".



A number of interesting ideas for utilizing web 2.0 platforms, resources, cultures and practises in the modern academic library are discussed in this presentation.

I have listed some of the key ideas bellow.

• Libraries should develop a Learning commons with specific reference to utilizing Wiki platforms. Meredith Farkas outlined a number of uses for Wikis which I found interesting. Wikis can be an important tool for capturing and then reusing knowledge. For example when libraries engage with other staff, academics and students in research tasks Wikis could be used to capture knowledge and incorporate it into the library services. Meredith sites a number of examples such as using wikis in Reference transactions or utilizing content generated by others.
  
• Libraries should now aggressively marketing via web 2.0 resources. Many libraries are now doing this. However it is some thing that ,libraries have not traditionally been good at and need to do allot more of according to Meredith. Providing none intrusive portals to clients so they can easily access a librarian from a research or social site is a good idea. However excessive marketing strategies should not draw resources such as staff time away from other pressing service tasks etc.
  
• Libraries should develop their OPACs to make them more usable and relevant to clients. I think everyone would agree with this. Utilizing both Folksonomies generated through client tagging practices and taxonomies could be useful to enhancing the search ability of a libraries resources. It will require radical trust which we see does work in other contexts. Establishing RSS feeds into OPACs will also improve user interest by bringing relevant content to users.
• Publishing most feedback may also be a useful idea. It could add a dimension of accountability to institutional practices and conduct as long as it is not abused and carefully moderated. It could also be a motivational tool for individual librarians. Libraries are in the public space and many of them are publicly funded after all so the risk may be worth taking.
• I agree with idea of putting collections out their. Meredith uses the example of putting special collections photographs into flickr for the general public to view and comment on. This is harnessing the wisdom of crowds to build knowledge of our resources or correct errors that we may make. Librarians are do not after all have specialist knowledge in specific areas. Many libraries are doing this at the moment. There is also allot of underused monographs sitting in stacks collecting dust that should be marketed rather than waiting to be sold or disposed of. Their should be a niche market for some of of this stuff and Library 2.0 should support it.