Blog for Web 2.0 Technology Trends in Libraries

The Final Project

The post about the final project is split into several posts: Library Specifics, Purpose of the Project, Web 2.0 Technology, Web 2.0 Technology Explained,

Step-by-Step Implementation Plan, Dealing with the Negatives, and finally the Link to the Final Project.

Library Specifics

The library I’ve chosen to create a 2.0 plan for is a (fictionalized) public library that serves a large metropolitan area (50,000). Although the library is situated in an arts oriented community (dance companies, theaters, colleges with dance programs, local dance and theater schools etc) the circulation of arts related materials at the public library materials is low. In efforts to determine why circulation of arts related materials was low, a survey was conducted which revealed that only thirty percent of participants responding to the survey knew about arts related materials and programs at the public library. This project (a blog that combines a few web 2.0 tools) serves as a means to inform the community about these library resources.

Although 30 percent is not a large number of users, their needs are still significant. This project also aims to reach the group of uses referred to as the “Long Tail.” Chris Anderson coined the term “Long Tail” to refer to a group of users that buy the “hard-to-fin or ‘non-hit’ items.” According to the book Web 2.0 for Librarians and Information Professionals by Ellyssa Krosky (2008) “What makes the long tail interests so fascinating is that when they are added up, these non-mainstream interests far outnumber the popular ones.” In Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk’s book Library 2.0: a Guide to Participatory Library Service (2007) the authors note that when libraries move towards 2.0 models they are trying to “invite user participation” and “reach out to new and existing users, increasing your ability to reach the Long Tail of users.”  

Purpose of the Project (Mission Statement)  

I have chosen to create a blog as an effort to reach users who are interested in the arts (specifically dance) and want to read and/or share opinions materials that can be found in the library or in the library network. The goal of this blog is to create a community where users with similar interests can communicate. This blog also serves as a response to the inquiries about what arts related materials and services are offered at the library.

Web 2.0 Technology

This blog incorporates a few web 2.0 tools: the blog, Meebo and YouTube. There is also a calendar where library events can be added, links to other arts related websites and a list of the newest books added to the library collection.   

Web 2.0 Technology Explained

The term web 2.0 has many definitions, but for the purpose of this project it means using technology (blogs, meebo, youtube, wikis, flicker, del.icio.us etc) to create services that reach current patrons and potential patrons (Casey & Savatinuk, 2007).

Blogger is the platform that this project will be hosted on. Blogger is a free blog service hosted by Google. I choose to use Blogger because it is simple to use, but at the same time it has many personalized options such as templates, colors, fonts and page content. The editing tools are also easy to use as is adding content. One advantage of using a blog is that it is easy to link the blog to the library page. Another is that Blogger allows informational content to be added to the blog (a library calendar, Meebo, YouTube link, list of the newest dance titles added to the library collection, list of websites about the arts). If users visit the blog they can get “one-stop-shopping.” For example instead of having to search the OPAC for new dance books they can just visit the Tutu Review. 

Meebo is a free IM service (Instant Message). It allows users to chat (ask questions) and get answers if the person(s) with the account is online. I choose to use Meebo because it is a free service that is easy to use. It is simple to sign up for a Meebo account, but it also doesn’t require that users have IM accounts. Additionally Meebo tells users if the librarian or person(s) with the account is online. Red means that the librarian isn’t online and green means that the librarian is online. Users then just type their questions into the query box. Meebo allows users who aren’t at the physical library access to reference service.

The YouTube link is set to the “ballet” channel so that users can watch videos on the subject. YouTube is an easy way to share videos. Users can upload their videos onto YouTube and share them publically or privately. This web 2.0 tool was added more for entertainment purposes then to promote a specific library service. Although once users see a dance film it might spark their interest in a specific performance or dancer and prompt them to visit the library. Depending on the response to this service, users in the future might be able to share their arts related videos with others in the community.

The Library Calendar hosted by Google serves as a means to keep users informed about upcoming library events. This element of the blog needs to be correctly formatted so that when users click on an event they can read the description. I choose to use Google Calendars because it allowed content to be added fairly easily and it was free. If the calendar can’t be formatted properly another solution is to link the existing library calendar to the blog.

Links to other arts related cites. I choose to add this content to the blog so that users can find information about arts websites. Links will be added periodically, and users can submit sites that they have found, but all links will be viewed by a librarian before being added to the blog. Adding links to the blog is a simple process, the links are just copy and pasted under the page element marked “Links.” Currently there are no links to other arts websites, so this provides a good opportunity to save and access noted arts related websites.

The list of the newest dance books added to the collection. I choose to add this content to the blog so that users can find out what the newest dance books are that were added to the collection. Although the books aren’t linked to the OPAC at the moment, linking them would allow users to see if the item is checked out, or to request it. Currently the library doesn’t keep a list of the newest dance books, so this content serves as a response to informing the community about materials in the collection.

Step-by-Step Implementation Plan

The blog is in its early stages (no comments) and few materials reviewed. Before the blog is made public staff training would be necessary. The blog is fairly simple to use, but a training session on using blogs would be a good idea just to make sure all staff know how to update/upkeep a blog should the need arise. After staff receive training, offering free blog training sessions for patrons would be the next step, so that users know how to use the blog. It would also be a good opportunity for advertising. A link to the library homepage for this blog would also make it more visible to patrons. The final step would be a community party that would last the duration of library hours. All day staff and patrons could watch arts films that would be shown at the library. A few computers would be reserved for patrons that wanted to leave a comment on the Tutu Review. At the moment the creation of this blog would not need funding as the training sessions for staff and patrons could be offered at the library and be run by library staff with prior blog knowledge. The library has computer and internet access, so additional technology would not be required for this project to launch.

Dealing with the Negatives

The blog will be public, but with limitations so that spam and misuse will not become issues. Any comment made to the blog will have to be approved by the blog moderator (librarian). If any privacy concerns arise changing the blog from public to private and only viewable by users with library cards might be a potential solution.  

Link to the Final Project

http://tutureview.blogspot.com/

I am currently working on coming up with an idea for the Final Project which is to create a web 2.0 service for a library. I tried entering the Meebo chat room for this course again, but it was empty, so I left. I think the layout of the Meebo service is appealing and the tool seems fairly easy to use.

I think it’s a really good idea and lets instant communication take place even in an online course. I think it work really well for any of the things mentioned (group work, office hours, small group library instruction). One way this tool works better than email in some cases is that it is instant, so you know if someone is available and ready to chat, whereas with email you don’t know. And sometimes with email there is always the chance that it never gets to the recipient, but with IM tools these are not issues. Although there are issues with IM tools (security, technology, access, training etc), but overall IM is a really good service when used wisely.  

When I entered the chat room there was no one there, so I’ll have to check back later.