Using blogs and wikis to communicate with library clients

This article begins with the authors (Harper & Watson 2006) outlining the uses of Web 2.0 and Librarian 2.0 in the library environment, with the inclusion of some excellent examples to further educate the reader. They then go on to elaborate on some tips to assist libraries in making successful use of Web 2.0 technology, in particular blogs and wikis, in their libraries.
Tip One explains the importance of be clear in your objective. What do you want to achieve in implementing this blog or wiki? Ensure the blog or wiki adheres to your organizations mission statement and aims. It is important for the library to develop guidelines and policies on the use of the blog, what type of information will be on the blog and what outcome is preferred from the use of the blog (or wiki). It is essential all staff that may have log on access to the blog or wiki are aware of these guidelines, aims and policies and adhere to them strictly. It is also imperative that a policy, including rules and guidelines is publicized for public perusal.
Tip Two tells us not to use technology just for the sake of using it. We need to ensure the technology will do what we need done before we use it. This links with Tip One in that if we are clear in our objectives and aims, we will better understand which technology to use to achieve this. It will not give the organization any credibility with the public if it appears the staffs are only “playing around” with technology.
Tip Three outlines the importance for honesty. Customers will not feel any different to “fakeness” online as they would in the physical library. If libraries want customers to feel valued and thus use this online service it must be provided with integrity. This also reflects on Tip One as if the library adheres to its mission statement, values such as honesty and integrity would usually be included in one form or other.
Tip Four stresses the importance of keeping the library blog or wiki current. If users do not receive a response to a post or if they notice the blog hasn’t been used for an extensive period of time they will lose faith in it. It also needs to look modern, bright and appealing to show users the library values the blog or wiki.
Tip Five informs the reader of the need to enable comments. This provides a valuable method of communication between the library and its users. However it is important once comments are enabled for the library to be consistent in responding to comments where necessary, and filtering any inappropriate comments.
Tip Six states the necessity to promote the library blog, particularly making use of RSS feeds. This is a valuable method for libraries to maintain a high profile. By providing an RSS feed ability they are ensuring that all subscribers receive updates as they happen. This removes the necessity for the user to keep checking the library blog but ensures the library pops up in the users’ newsreader regularly. It would be pointless creating a library blog or wiki if no one knows of its existence.
This article provides some very useful hints and guidelines for anyone interested in setting up a blog or wiki on behalf of their organization, and beyond that giving these blogs or wikis the opportunity to be successful, and useful in creating an online community for the library.


Harper, K. & Watson, C. (2006). Using blogs and wikis to communicate with library clients. [Electronic Version] Incite. Sydney: Library Association of Australia. Retrieved August 30th, 2008 from http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/incite/2006/12/print.html?ID=138

Emerging technology

Read the following paper - Kajewski, M. (2007) 'Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models', The Electronic Library vol.25 no.4 pp.420-429. Available in the Emerald Management Xtra database at http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/find-info/databases/The article explores how low-cost (even free!) technologies can be implemented by libraries to enhance services. In a posting of about 600 words can you briefly describe some of these emerging technologies (try to provide some examples)?

Kajewski’s article describes many of the low cost, or more commonly, free technologies which have begun to emerge over recent years. These technologies can be used to increase the service libraries provide to customers to the point of being able to provide these services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Some of the technologies which Kajewski (2007) describes are blogs, RSS feeds, IM (instant messaging), wikis, podcasts, vodcasts and web conferencing. Blogs in particular are very useful and free tools for libraries to utilise. A blog, short for web log, is a special type of website where content is displayed in sequence of date order, almost like an online diary. The most recent entry is always at the top of the page, enabling quick and easy checking for updated content. Creating a blog requires no special web building knowledge meaning any computer literate individual could create one. Libraries can use blogs as a means of getting information to library users of any upcoming events, news, new item arrivals, or even as a means of obtaining feedback from users or potential users. Sutherland Library in Sydney has a blog which is a good example of the usefulness of this tool. This blog contains literary news, book reviews, an audio file of an author seminar held in the library, and a vast amount of other interesting information.
RSS feeds are a service which allows users to receive updates of websites into their newsreaders as these websites are updated. A newsreader can also be known as an aggregator. This alleviates the necessity for users to constantly check multiple websites of interest to ascertain if there have been any updates. Newsreader software is freely available on the internet, and a lot of email software includes a newsreader. The RSS feed usually contains such information as a headline, a brief description of the update and a link to the new updated website. Websites which allow users to subscribe to an RSS feed of their site will have a small orange symbol on the site indicating this.
Podcasts are web based audio programmes which are accessed via subscription, and downloaded automatically onto a subscriber’s computer. This enables the user to access this audio programme at any time convenient to them. These programmes can be played back either on a portable device such as an IPod or via a computer. A podcast is different from other audio files due to the fact that it can be subscribed to and automatically downloaded. The University of Adelaide has an interesting podcast library which covers public lectures, various talks which have been held at the library and talks on pressing topical issues. These talks can be downloaded directly, or they can be subscribed to through RSS feeds which will download direct to the subscribers’ computer.
Instant messaging is “real time chat” between two persons, using text based words rather than vocal. Users have to download specific chat software and from there are able to initiate communication at any time. An excellent example of this in use in libraries is the “Ask a Librarian service”. This service enables users to chat to a librarian, via text, in real time and receive an answer almost immediately.
As Kajewski states in her article, all these technologies, and more, are available, many of them free. It is important for libraries to get staff trained and enthusiastic in the use of these technologies and get them working for the benefit of libraries and their communities. This is the way of the future.


Ask a Librarian: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/ask/
Kajewski, M. (2007). Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models.The Electronic Library, 25(4), 420-429.Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the Emerald Management Xtra database
Sutherland Library Blog: http://blog.sutherlandlibrary.com/
University of Adelaide Library: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/podcasts/

Library 2.0 models


Read the following paper - 'Library 2.0: service for the next-generation library'. This paper is available at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html?q=Library+2%2E0. The paper discusses how Web 2.0 type ideas and technologies might be applied within libraries. In a posting of about 600 words can you outline some of the elements of the model that the authors describe as Library 2.0 (focus on the model rather than the technologies)?

The elements that make up Library 2.0 are not new. The concepts have always been around but with the advent of new technology it is now much easier to implement these ideas. Library 2.0 is not only about technology. Technology enables us to implement some of these changes easier but it is not essential for the implementation of Library 2.0. The basis of Library 2.0 is user participation. It is the bringing together of library users (and hopefully non users) and the sharing of the knowledge of these people. This can either be virtually or physically. In fact, the more this is done the better it is. With no participation, feedback, or sharing amongst the library users, and library staff, there would be no Library 2.0.
With the advent of Library 2.0 library users are able to customize library services to their own personal requirements, either online through their customization of the libraries’ home page to their own requirements, or physically through book talks or reader groups. (Casey, Savastinuk, 2006). A library blog on the libraries website is a good way to integrate both these services. Readers like to know what other readers are reading, and through the library blog can leave book reviews, read others reviews and recommendations, and generally feel part of the library community in a way not as easily done in the past. It is an excellent opportunity for library staff to harness the knowledge of their library users and let the library users create their own space. Social networking sites such as facebook can be utilized to expose library details, as a forum for members, (or non members), to ask questions of library staff, leave reviews and to advertise events, amongst other things. Many libraries have trouble reaching young people. A large percentage of young people use social networking sites, so this is a good way of taking the library to them, rather than expecting them to come to the library. It also has the advantage of exposing the library to people who may never have considered using its services.
Ask a Librarian is a classic example of providing traditional reference services but in a Library 2.0 world. People are able to access a librarian in real time, via a chat messaging platform and ask for assistance finding information. This librarian may be on the other side of the country but they will be able to chat via typed message, and the customer receives the help they need without ever having to leave their home. This is the use of technology library users need, and want. People of today are time poor and expect access to information when they need it.
Library 2.0 is all about giving the customers want they want, almost to the point where we are letting them create it. It is finding out which services the customers want, how they want it and when. It is about evaluating these services constantly and thinking outside the square. Libraries of today can no longer “set and forget”. They must be constantly listening to their customers needs, keeping themselves aware of trends, and keeping up to date with services other libraries are providing. Libraries need to ensure they look at their services with a fresh set of eyes, thinking about the services already available and how they could be improved to become available to more people.

Ask a Librarian: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/ask/ Retrieved: 21st August 2008
Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L., 2006, Library 2.0 : Service for the next generation. Library Journal. Retrieved August 20th from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html?q=Library+2%2E0
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/. Retrieved 21st August 2008

What is meant by Web 2.0 ??

What is meant by Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 is very hard to define in this rapidly evolving world. As fast as we try to define it, it changes. The phrase Web 2.0 is commonly used to describe any part of the internet which allows users to interact, edit or create in a way the original version of the Web didnt. Sites such as Wikipedia, Blogger, Facebook, and Google typify Web 2.0 examples. Users are able to interact and share information with other users via these websites in a way not possible in the past Pearce (2007)interprets the phrase web 2.0 as being the second version of the internet, along the lines of a second generation. The first generation of the internet was very static. Many web sites were text based, maybe with some graphics. There was very little interactivity between site creators or other users of the site. The second generation of the internet is all about interactivity, sharing, communication and input of users. Oberhelman (2007) describes Web 2.0 as tools that allow visitors to share information via a website, rather than just the website imparting information to users.
O’Reilly (2005) states, personal web-pages are evolving into blogs, encyclopedias into Wikipedia, text-based tutorials into streaming media applications, taxonomies into “folksonomies,” and question-answer/email customer support infrastructures into instant messaging (IM) services.
Previously an individual may create a family website to keep in contact with family and friends. With the advent of Web 2.0 this is more likely to be a blog, (short for web log). A blog is almost like an online diary for the creator in which visitors to the blog are able to leave comments. These are very popular with travellers as they are able to be accessed from any computer with internet access, anywhere in the world, whereas the owner of a website may have to have specific software to enable them to update their site.
The modern internet is all about communication, with messaging, real time chat or posting as a means for people to communicate with each other becoming the norm. Sites such as Facebook and Myspace are gaining popularity on a daily basis. On sites such as these, users sign up and are then able to edit their own profile, adding information almost like a diary, adding links to friends’ pages, uploading and sharing photographs, and communicate with friends and family. Sites such as this have made the world a smaller place, with family overseas brought into our daily lives as if they were right here. It is possible to link with video sites such as Youtube, ( a video sharing website) to share personal, or favourite videos via your individual social networking site.
Wikipedia is a free web-based encyclopaedia that allows users to add and edit its pages as they wish. Anyone at all can edit this encyclopaedia, which can cast doubt on its content. It is a very popular resource, even with the mistrust of its authoritiveness, but as Pearce (2006) states it is a very useful for basic information and an overview of a subject. Wikipedia usually has links to external sites which may be more authoritive.
Overall the advent of web 2.0 technology has moved the internet into the next generation. Whether we want to use the term web 2.0 or something entirely different there is no going back. The tools this phrase has come to encompass are constantly evolving and it essential we keep ourselves current or we will become computer illiterate.

References:
Facebook. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/ on August 1st, 2008.
Myspace. Retrieved from http://www.myspace.com/ on August 1st, 2008

Oberhelman, D. (2007). Coming to terms with Web 2.0, Reference Reviews
21(7) 5-6. Retrieved 3rd August 2008, from Emerald Insight database.

Oreilly, T. (2005). What is web 2.0 retrieved from http://oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html on July 30th 2008.

Pearce, J. (2006) User collaboration in websites. Paper presented to Framing the future, ARLIS/ANZ Conference. Retrieved July 21st, 2008 from http://www.nla.gov.au/nla/staffpaper/2006/jpearce1.html

Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia on 29th July, 2008
Youtube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/ on August 1st, 2008