Learning & Using Library 2.0 Starr Hoffman Librarian for Digital Collections University of North Texas Libraries Hi, I’m Starr Hoffman. I’m currently Librarian for Digital Collections at the University of North Texas. I archive government websites and congressional documents. Part of my job is exploring emerging technologies. San Antonio Public Libraries | Staff Development Day | 10.08.2007

What Is Library 2.0? social software IM Using social technologies to expand library services. wikis photo sharing social networking What Is Library 2.0? Using social technologies to expand library services. Library 2.0 is a phrase that spun off of the phrase "Web 2.0." Web 2.0 refers to second-generation web technologies, and in particular to what is called "Social software." Social software is something that's talked about everyday now--things like MySpace, Flickr, LibraryThing, and similar websites. These websites deal with different types of content--pictures, book records, chat software, games, etc.--but they all share the social aspect. The purpose of social software is to reach out and see what other people are saying and doing online, and to join them. Hence, Library 2.0 is all about tapping into that social aspect of the internet and providing some traditional and some new library services with those technologies. This philosophy expands to include gaming in libraries, "information commons," iPod and laptop checkout, etc. social software blogs IM bookmarking RSS video sharing

Overview Library 2.0 technologies Ways libraries are using them How to learn Library 2.0 Ideas to get you started Today, I’m going to start by giving an overview of several popular Library 2.0 technologies. I’ll briefly describe each technology and what it does, and also list some of the most popular websites. Then I’ll highlight some ways that specific libraries are using these technologies. Then, we’ll review some strategies and resources for learning Library 2.0 yourself. Finally, I’ll list some ideas to get you started, and show how you can use many of these technologies for free. So let’s explore some popular Library 2.0 technologies.

Blogs and RSS Blog (from “web log”) Popular blogging software: Blogger LiveJournal Xanga Blogs can be anything from diaries to newsletters to event updates. They are basically just websites designed to post content (usually text), arranged with the most recent content at the top. They provide a simple interface to type content, submit/publish it, without needing to know HTML. The name comes from “web log,” because blogs used to be primarily online journals/diaries. Blogs are great in two different respects: reading them, and writing them. Reading them is a great way to keep up with what’s happening in libraries and in technology, and get ideas from other library staff. There are blogs written by individual authors, several people, and organizations (like libraries!). I read a number of different types of blogs: Written by librarians written by libraries (posts written by several library staffers) technology news (not exclusively library-related) digitization specialists professional opportunities (calls for papers, publishing opp., etc.) Writing blogs is another great opportunity. It gives you a chance to promote your library, projects you/your library are working on, and a way to express your ideas on current library issues. It’s also great writing practice! Blog: “Geeky Artist Librarian” Hosted by Blogger http://geekyartistlibrarian.blogspot.com

Blogs and RSS orange icon indicates an RSS feed RSS news feeds RSS-published comics RSS feeds for digital collections for recently added items for search query results RSS is the technology that enables blogs to "push" content to blog aggregating websites like Google Reader or Bloglines. Aggregating websites allow you to read a number of blogs without remembering and navigating to multiple, individual websites. For instance, I have about 100 blog feeds in my Bloglines aggregator account—there is no way I’d remember to check that many websites each day! RSS “pushes” new blog content to your aggregator account as soon as it’s published on each blog. It’s as simple to create an aggregator account as it is to create an email account. Then all you have to do is “subscribe” to each blog, which is a fast and easy process. RSS can also be used to "push" non-blog content. Many news sources offer RSS feeds. The popular comic "Unshelved" has an RSS feed. My library's digital collections actually produce RSS feeds on-the-fly for new items and for any search query. Bloglines account (Blog and RSS aggregator) http://www.bloglines.com UNT Digital Collections search results: RSS feed http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse

Wikis Features Popular wiki software: simple formatting collaborative work manage projects document workflows share documents Popular wiki software: Pbwiki MediaWiki Wikipedia http://www.wikipedia.org/ Wikis are perhaps the hardest of these technologies to explain, but one of the simplest to use. If you've ever spent hours fighting with a word processing program over how to correctly format a bulleted list, then you will love wikis. If you work with other people to create documents, you will love wikis. If you document workflows or work processes or manage projects, you will love wikis. If you write a lot of documents and use multiple computers on a daily basis, you will love wikis. “Wiki” is Hawaiin for “quick.” Wikis are webpages designed for simple, quick editing. You don’t have to know HTML to use a wiki, and many wikis don’t require you to log in to add content. I use my free PBwiki account to manage projects, continuously update department workflows, and create documents. “Library Success” wiki http://www.libsuccess.org/

Social Networking Features: Popular sites: Comments, email, instant messaging Groups centered around interests Post photos, video Popular sites: MySpace Facebook LinkedIn Ning SecondLife Social networking sites allow you (or your library) to create a persona online. It's a great way to reach out and find new patrons, as well as to network with other information professionals. This is particularly relevant for youth services librarians and anyone who deals with high-school or college-age students. Again, these take about as much time to set up as an email account. Facebook account http://www.facebook.com

IM (instant messaging) Popular IM clients: AIM (AOL IM) YahooIM ICQ Operate several accounts: Meebo Trillian Trillian (accessing YahooIM) http://www.ceruleanstudios.com IM can provide quick communication between colleagues or a cheaper alternative to virtual reference software. Meebo in particular is a great choice for a chat reference service, because you can place a Meebo chat box on your traditional library website. Patrons don’t have to click to get to another page, or log into a service to use it. You don’t organize these websites into flat folders, like you would in the “Favorites” feature on your Internet browser. Instead, you apply a number of keywords (also called “tags”) to each website you save, so that you can search and access them using any of those keywords. (If you use Gmail account, you’ll be somewhat familiar with concept—it’s similar to how Gmail lets you place an email message into more than one “folder.”) Meebo (embedded chat reference window) Lander University, Jackson Library http://www.lander.edu/library/jackson/

Bookmarking / Tagging Popular bookmarking software: del.icio.us Backflip Bookmarking websites allow you to save your favorite URLs online, and categorize them for easy locating. This is not only useful when you use multiple computers, but it's handy to share websites with others--you can post suggested links for your friends and coworkers. del.icio.us account http://del.icio.us/mithdara/

Photo and Video Sharing photo-sharing sites Flickr Snapfish video-sharing sites Youtube Flickr account http://flickr.com/photos/geekyartistlibrarian/ Photo and video-sharing websites offer more than just the opportunity to post your content to the web. Tags, groups, and comment space allow for a dynamic experience. Post photos of your library's most recent event, link it from your library website, and watch the comments come in! Why not videotape your next storytelling session or puppet show? Youtube video (ALA Book Cart Drill Teams) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6U_0Rg3A4s

...And More! Mashups Twitter LibraryThing Tag clouds Zotero etc… There’s a lot more Library 2.0 out there—this is just beginning to scratch the surface. I recommend checking out some librarian blogs or the “Library Success” wiki (link is posted on my wiki) for more about these technologies and creative ways to use them.

Why Use Library 2.0? Expanding the core mission of libraries: serving our users. serving users: Using their ways In their environment   Before they search for information So, let’s review--why should we use Library 2.0? It expands the core mission of libraries: serving our users. Not only serving our users, but serving them in the way they like and understand, in an environment that's familiar to them. Pushing content to them means serving users before they have to hunt for content: finding them where they already live and work (online), and serving their information needs in places they didn't realize they could get help. It's one more avenue for us, as librarians, to reach out to our patrons. We can reach more patrons, in more locations, with new services or with updated versions of traditional services (such as providing reference service through instant messaging).

How Are Libraries Using Library 2.0? Use blogs to power their website enable comments let users subscribe to your library content How Are Libraries Using Library 2.0? Ann Arbor District Libraries: use blogs to power their website ** multiple blogs for different purposes—post upcoming events, book reviews, etc. ** (enabled comments)—patrons can post comments and ideas to the posts, as well as questions—librarians can answer them on the website! ** easily and quickly keeps their library homepage updated with new content ** http://www.aadl.org/ Even the library director has a blog! Ann Arbor District Library website http://www.aadl.org (created using multiple blogs)

How Are Libraries Using Library 2.0? Use wikis for your library’s subject guides easy, quick for non-techies to update let patrons contribute content wikis serve as great subject guides: easy and quick to update, or let patrons contribute content Considering that online resources are changing all the time, this is a much quicker way to update than using a traditional webpage. ** Again, you don’t need to know HTML to edit these pages! “Biz Wiki” (business subject guides) Ohio University, Alden Library http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/

How Are Libraries Using Library 2.0? “Slam the Boards” event answer questions posted on forum websites meet patrons in their own environment http://answerboards.wetpaint.com/page/Slam+the+Boards (slam the boards event): meet patrons in their own environment, and actively answer their questions--don't wait for them to come to you ** think about what a fantastic way this is to promote your library and gain a whole new group of library patrons! If you’re actively going out into the “social internet” and finding people with questions, and answering those questions when they didn’t even know your library existed, much less did they ask you specifically to help them… think how amazed they’ll be! The next time they have a question, they’re most likely going to ask you first, because they know you’re interested in helping them. And that comes back to the core mission of our libraries—reaching out to help patrons.

How Do I Learn Library 2.0? Just try it. Make time. Remember the mantra: Just try it. Make time. Quick & easy 15 minutes a day Try one new thing a day Teach yourself: “Learning Library 2.0” self-course http://plcmclearning.blogspot.com/ “Five Weeks to a Social Library” resources http://www.sociallibraries.com/course How Do I Learn Library 2.0? It's quick and easy. Remember the mantra: Just try it. Make time. Take fifteen minutes a day, at whatever time you have the most patience or the room is fairly quiet. Try one new thing a day. Use an online guide, such as Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County’s Learning Library 2.0 page. It’s a self-paced course, designed to fit into the 15-minutes a day method. Another great resource is the “Five Weeks to a Social Library” course. You can go to the website listed above to view all the course materials, and I also have my portion of the presentation, “The ‘How’ of Wikis,” linked on my wiki. This presentation is a step-by-step guide (with screenshots) to learning how to create a wiki, create your first page, and more.

How Do I Use Library 2.0? The sky's the limit! The sky's the limit! Here are some ideas to start you brainstorming...

Free Ways to Try Library 2.0 Ideas to get you brainstorming.. Blogger / LiveJournal account post about upcoming library events have librarians alternate blogging have "guest experts" write about library collections point out library services post about library projects Blogger / LiveJournal account post about upcoming library events have librarians alternate blogging have "guest experts" write about library collections point out library services post about library projects

Free Ways to Try Library 2.0 More ideas... Flickr account document library events and displays up to 200 photos for free; $25/year for unlimited photos MySpace and Facebook pages for your library and/or for individual librarians put your username on the library website, or on your business cards PBwiki account share content, collaborate create a FAQ or subject guide save training documents and programs Flickr account document library events and displays up to 200 photos for free; $25/year for unlimited photos MySpace and Facebook pages for your library and/or for individual librarians put your username on the library website, or on your business cards PBwiki account share content, collaborate create a FAQ or subject guide save training documents and programs for later use

Want More? My Wiki Contact Me! http://geekyartistlibrarian.pbwiki.com Links to: Resources for learning Library 2.0 Today’s presentations Today’s handouts Contact Me! Starr.Hoffman@unt.edu http://geekyartistlibrarian.blogspot.com