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/