Web Trends & Innovations John Blyberg, Ann Arbor (MI) District Library Sarah Houghton, Marin County (CA) Free Library David King, Kansas City (MO) Public Library Glenn Peterson, Hennepin (MN) County Library Internet Librarian 2005

Large Public Library Websites  Libraries with awesome websites:  What are they doing?  What’s their focus?

Phoenix Public Library’s Focus  Welcoming customers  Content and events  Attractive design  Subject guides  Redesigned September 2003

Seattle Public Library’s Focus  Interacting – Using the library, searching the catalog, locating a library, browsing, downloading  Introducing customers to library services – library collection, databases, events, locations  Redesigned February 2004

New York Public Library’s Focus  Finding things: Finding content (catalog, databases, local history) Finding content (catalog, databases, local history) Finding locations Finding locations Discovering library services Discovering library services  Major Events  Redesigned May 2004

Generalizations  Main Focus: Content Content Customers Customers Communication Communication  Redesigning with Web Standards

How Do They Do That? It’s all about leverage Web Application Software Web Application Software (PHP, ASP, ColdFusion, perl, etc.) Rapid Development Environment Rapid Development Environment (Dreamweaver, Homesite, etc.) Reference staff for content Reference staff for content (Web-based tools for staff) Learn more about XML Learn more about XML (underlies RSS & more)

Subject Guides  Starting points for finding information in specific topic areas  Bring together in one place all library resources on a topic

Subject Guides  What’s Included? Databases Databases Selected Websites Selected Websites Links into Library Catalog Links into Library Catalog Classes/Events Classes/Events RSS Feeds RSS Feeds Subject-specific Blog Subject-specific Blog

Small Library Power  I’m at a small library with No staff No staff No money No money No time No time No coders No coders  What can I possibly do ???

Simple Blogging & RSS  Create a weblog for your library  It’s free free  Add RSS feeds (also free)  No tech skills required  You don’t even have to call it a blog You don’t even have to call it a blog You don’t even have to call it a blog  Waterboro, University High Library, Homer Township, Marin County WaterboroUniversity High LibraryHomer TownshipMarin County WaterboroUniversity High LibraryHomer TownshipMarin County

Linked Lists  Hyperlinked reading/viewing/listening lists You have these laying around—put ‘em online! You have these laying around—put ‘em online! HTML or a hyperlinked PDF HTML or a hyperlinked PDF HTMLPDF HTMLPDF  Quick Searches Links that lead to prefab catalog searches Links that lead to prefab catalog searches All the DVDs, new books, large typeAll the DVDs, new books, large type San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan FranciscoSan Francisco San RafaelSan RafaelSan RafaelSan Rafael

Simple Online Forms  Printable PDFs Card application Card application Card application Card application Obituary request Obituary request Obituary request Obituary request  Simple HTML forms reference request reference request reference request reference request Patron comments Patron comments Patron comments Patron comments

Lightweight Virtual Reference  Instant Messaging Instant Messaging Instant Messaging Your users are here already—where are you? Your users are here already—where are you? Free or cheap Free or cheap Aggregate multiple accounts through Trillian or Gaim Aggregate multiple accounts through Trillian or Gaim  Jybe Jybe One-click connection (uses downloadable toolbar) One-click connection (uses downloadable toolbar) Free or cheap Free or cheap Incorporates co-browsing Incorporates co-browsing  SMS SMS Cell phones in the library? Cell phones in the library?

Ann Arbor District Library  AADL.ORG’s open source tools L.A.M.P. L.A.M.P. LinuxLinux ApacheApache MySQLMySQL PHPPHP Drupal CMS Drupal CMS

Ann Arbor District Library  Linux Debian “Sarge” Debian “Sarge” 2.6.x kernel 2.6.x kernel Stable platform Stable platform Easy to manage Easy to manage No associated license fees No associated license fees

Ann Arbor District Library  Apache Fast Fast Stable Stable Flexible configuration Flexible configuration Modular Modular Ubiquitous Ubiquitous Free Free

Ann Arbor District Library  MySQL Fast Fast Stable Stable Scalable Scalable Most DB-based open source projects choose MySQL instead of PostgreSQL. Most DB-based open source projects choose MySQL instead of PostgreSQL. Most of our pre-existing databases were in MYSQL Most of our pre-existing databases were in MYSQL Free Free

Ann Arbor District Library  PHP Easy to use Easy to use Large support base Large support base Native support for XML Native support for XML Many built-in functions Many built-in functions Stable Stable Fun Fun Much of our existing code is PHP Much of our existing code is PHP Free Free

Ann Arbor District Library  Drupal Open-source Open-source Written in PHP Written in PHP 100% Modular 100% Modular API-centric API-centric Fast Fast Very active project Very active project Good support base Good support base Well Documented Well Documented Approach to CMS/Blogging fell within our needs Approach to CMS/Blogging fell within our needs Oh, yes. It’s free. Oh, yes. It’s free.

Trends in Public Library Websites  Next 2-3 years  My best guesses

Redesigning  With CSS  Cincinnati, Seattle, Ann Arbor, Phoenix  Kansas City will be soon…  Who’s next?

Interaction and Content Interaction and Content  Blogs and RSS  Contacting the library – Phone number, IM, Chat, SMS, , etc  Mixing online, traditional, database, catalog  Video is coming – Kansas City, Bookhive, etc…

Interaction and Content Interaction and Content  Example: Bookhive (a kid’s site): Book reviews by staff Book reviews by staff Customer comments Customer comments Request book Request book Buy book Buy book  Example: AADL RSS and Comments everywhere RSS and Comments everywhere Combines information and conversation Combines information and conversation

John Blyberg, AADL Sarah Houghton, MCFL David King, KCLS Glenn Peterson Web Trends & InnovationsInternet Librarian 2005 Web Trends & Innovations Internet Librarian 2005