Reasons for social media

The following two Libraries utilize a number of social networking tools

Like many other libraries the Sydney University Library uses Facebook, Youtube, and RSS feeds, to engage with key stake holders.

Specifically I was impressed with the quality of the media used to deliver information literacy instruction to what would be the undergraduate student body. A mix of Pod casts and Screen casts are used to deliver interactive content to the learner. Most employ graphically interactively and dynamic interfaces that minimizes the use of static blocks of text. I found them engaging and even fun to use. I was able to find an interesting lesson without having to scroll through long navigation menus or scan large chunks of text.

The Sydney university libraries also maintains a e-scholarship portal or digital repository for scholars to publish both finished papers or make available research data to the broader scholarly community. The university is currently undertaking a project to improving the accessibility/searchibility of the latter. Although repositories may lack the glammar of other social media they do allow the library to become a publisher of the institutions output (Much of it publicly funded) at a fraction of the costs usually associated with conventional commercial publishing. The problem has been the modest to slow take up. It seems that repositories do need to be aggressively marketed. Unfortunately the resources to do this may be lacking.

The State Library of NSW makes extensive use of a number of the more common social media applications such as YouTube, Twitter, and Flickr to deliver a range of content and news items to the general public.

Being both accessible and present will be important for this large public institution. Social media will allow the library to improve both relatively cheaply. These media will also allow the library to actively syndicate a large amount of what I would call public interest material.

The usability of the catalogue has also been improved through the us of folksonomy through tagging (If a tag is used more than ten times it is included in the record), keyword assistance search suggestions, and user enabled reviews and comments.

The benefits of social media

I have briefly outlined some of the users that are made of social media tools. The lessons of gaming, social media and virtual environments can be used to construct valuable and engaging learning tools around interactive pod/screen casts as the Sydney university library demonstrates. Or they can be utilised to build a catalogue that both guides users during the search process and incorporates relevant user content.

The Web 2.0 information Professional:OLJ task

What essential knowledge and skills will the information professional of the 21st century require in the web 2.0 world?

I believe the Information professional will need to:

• Develop an understand of the how and why people seek information and engage in learning in the digital world. What platforms and technologies do patrons use to overcome specific problems. How are they connecting with information and people in the existing digital networks? One particular library went to the lengths employing an anthropologists to do research studies into patron social/learning behavior. However using and testing the technology will allow us to do allot of this sort of intelligence gathering at far lower dollar cost. If we gain an understanding of the digital social and information ecology that surrounds us we will be well placed to build a place for ourselves within this ecology.
• The information professional will therefore have to have a good working knowledge of the Web 2.0 technologies out their that the patrons are now using. Many librarians now manage Blogs, Wikis, web sites and OPAC's and build a diverse range of audiovisual digital content to fill these platforms. Many will also incorporate content into a variety of remote reference services platform and channels. Active content building will be important. Librarians will have to become builders rather than just gatekeepers of content.
• This will require a degree of cultural change. New ways of producing and distribution information and knowledge present new challenges. Existing institutions are now being challenged by the Googles and Wikipedias of the digital world. Information is no longer as bound nor is its production as centralized as it once was. These will present a range of new financial, technological, organizational and legal challenges for all information professionals and the institutions they work for. As Alvin Toffler prophesied some time ago we are entering a world of rapid change requiring continuous adaptation and learning.
  
• Most importantly though the information professional will have to continue to do what they have always done and bring information and people together. In this sense the web and web 2.0 represents and opportunity rather than a threat. The ability to dynamically link people and documents together in new and interesting ways has great potential. Developments in Web 2.0 can be leveraged to facilitate a process of interaction and access between learning communities and a libraries resources repositories.

Effective library web sites

Ten useful points to consider. Just a start.

• Use appropriate fonts and colors so that text is easy to read. Use simple middle school language.
  
• Navigation bars should be clearly highlighted and accessible from all the sites pages. Users need to know where they are and know clearly how to get from A to B.
  
• In the home page employ Catchy headlines and short sentences/paragraphs in combination with a variety of media to engage prospective readers. Link these to background pages for more detailed information and content.
• Utilize attractive graphical interfaces for both linking and separating/highlighting targeted content. Ensue that the web site design and layout is consistent through out the site.
  
• Patrons should be able to access a librarian via virtual reference links or be able to search the site or catalogue from any page. The Meebo tool is a good example. Attractive graphical interfaces such as a Google style dialogue box should be employed. Cut out the blandness and complexity of traditional OPAC's.
  
• The Mathews article mentions using Google Analytics to monitor user activity. Understanding how users use the site will be vital for improving its design and functionality.
  
• Constantly update content. News, events and collections promotion should provide a steady stream of interesting material for this. Invite feedback and comments.
  
• Users should also be able navigate to any part of the libraries digital ecology from the Libraries home page. For example links to facebook, twitter and flickr should be prominently displayed.
• Allot can be learned from Gaming to make sites both more usable and enjoyable. Staff should be encouraged to look out side the box for solutions to usability issues and problems.
  
• Support interactivity via imbedded Blogs, and RSS feeds. Make the site more useful for individual users,
  

"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.
  

OLJ task: Library 2.0 at ASU libraries

The Arizona State University Libraries have developed a very active online web based marketing and outreach program. The libraries "Library minute" infotainment video casts which broadcast on social media a range of library services news and events are certainly testament to the energy with which outreach is currently pursued. The library also maintains an active presence on some of the biggest and most popular social media platforms around today notably Facebook, twitter, Youtube, flickr, and itunes. Go to where the clients are is the new mantra. The library is certainly trying to do this. It is now developing platform independent web based services. Students can now search the libraries catalogue or utilize Ask a librarian services from a hand held device. One of the more impressive offerings was the libraries catalogue. It had Incorporated effective elements from web based platforms that the current web users would be most familiar. These include Web 2.0 elements such as RSS feeds. I found the catalogue to be both attractive and easy to use.

How has the ASL's pursued the four underling principles (Four Cs) that have come to associated with web 2.0 practices and attributes?

Collaboration: From what I can see there is very litle in the way of active collaboration between the library and its clients in the production and dissemination of content. Participation is encouraged but there generally seems to be only a one way conversation. Although to the libraries credit it has campaigned to try and get students/clients to talk to the library via catchy and entertaining video casts.

Conversation: The video channel for example is essentially a blog that allows users to post comments on videos that may be of interest to users. However from what I have seen this is rarely used. The was some activity on the Youtube channel but not a great deal. However as I have already mentioned the library has actively promoted and marketed all its feedback channels.

Community: Despite some of the limitations mentioned above the library is presenting an attractive face to the university community that is refreshing. It is seeking to actively engage with library clients and users. It has also importantly sort to streamline and simplify the search process for clients resulting in barriers to information and librarians being reduced. I can see these things being good for moral in the organization as engagement and institutional and individual learning have become a bigger part of the life of the library.

Content creation: As I have mention above most content is created by the library. However students are encouraged to become actively involved with content creation through various competitions and events.

However I do wonder about the cost of maintaining these digital spaces. These activities do employ a large number of staff. Do the benefits out way the costs? What is forgone? Would the interests of students and academic staff be better served through more journal subscriptions etc. Does an attractive marketing campaign have the same value as a more comprehensive collection? How are libraries going to move beyond marketing to a platform paradigm which sustain and fosters learning communities.

Second Life

I found the readings on this subject quite interesting. I can see the benefits of using second life to sim real world situations in a dynamic and engaging way. Tacit knowledge can be imparted through learning by watching and doing in an immersive digital environment . This may be important in the service sector that we librarians work in for Second life will give us the potential to practice through active role play. New roles and scenarios can be explored and the challenges of real world like problems experienced in a relatively safe environment.

However I can see the problems beginners will face as second life does impose a high learn curve on many. It also requires a fare bit of work to become established and comfortable. There are certainly allot of well worked on avatars in there. I am still a novice user which is a disincentive for me as I do lack the confidence that others have on the site.

OLJ activity: RSS feeds

The State Library of Victoria has a number of RSS feeds in operation across its web site and catalogue. These RSS feeds perform a number of useful and cost effective functions for the library buy efficiently delivering news and content to interested parties in the broader public. The general public can be kept up to date with current library news and events with two specific RSS feeds set up for these. Journalists and other interested parties can remain informed of current media/Press releases. Job seekers can subscribe to the libraries positions available feed. Those with a more specific interest can subscribe to the arts and genealogy blogs.

Another quite interesting development has been the libraries decision to use RSS feeds to deliver updated catalogue content to clients. This feed allows clients to be kept up to date on new catalogue items that have relevance to their past searches. In this way clients can be kept informed of collection developments that may be most relevant to their needs.

The New York Public library also users a number of RSS feeds to deliver services to the general public. As It is a community public library, special RSS feeds have been established to target specific demographic groups such as children, teens and adults that use this library. To support the uptake of these feeds detailed easy to follow instructions on how to set up specific feeds are provided to clients. The library also maintains a large number of collection promotion specific blogs which can easily be followed via RSS.

University libraries have different uses for RSS feeds. For example the Ohio University libraries have subject specific Blogs that can be followed via RSS. These are maintained by subject librarians. Princeton University also has subject specific blogs with RSS feeds that could be useful for students studying in specific fields and needing the services of specific libraries. This university also has collection development RSS feeds that allow clients to regularly receive updates on new databases resources and catalogue acquisitions.

The above mentioned examples highlight some examples of how RSS feeds are used at this point in a range of libraries. However one of the most comprehensive lists of RSS feeds available from a library would be that provided by the US Library of congress. Given he public demand for services from this national library this is not surprising.