Content and Commons: Library 2.0 Organizational Strategies Terence K. Huwe Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library University of California, Berkeley Internet Librarian USA Monterey, October 30, 2007

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 What I Am Going to Cover: How “library skill” can drive organizational change—and how 2.0 is a turbo-charger How Library 2.0 and Web 2.0 are changing “communities of practice” and what that means for us How our new Library Commons was built—with digital services in the driver’s seat What we did—online and “analog”—at UC Berkeley’s IRLE Library, and why it’s working

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 Library 2.0, Content and Commons: Many Interpretations = Opportunity Some questions for all organizations: –Can you foretell what classrooms will look like in five years? –Libraries? –Offices? –Organizational Charts? Some challenges to face: –We need to do “more of the same, only better” –…All the while, stepping into new roles

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 “Technologies of Collaboration” Are Now Mainstream It’s Now Vital to view technology as an “enabler of community” and respond accordingly The Good News: Most professionals have embraced Web 2.0 But It is Crucial to Build a Strategy to understand user needs and offer the services they want Physical Space Has New Life: Those of us with the opportunity to do so can “enliven” physical (and virtual) space—and the process goes together Library 2.0 and the Library Commons play directly to current research about teaching and classroom design

ILI-London, October 8, Tools Go Well with Legacy Systems-- and are Also Driving Space Planning Promising New Technology Platforms: –Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, social bookmarking, flickr, social networking with MySpace, Facebook, and Second Life--and a growing list of more The Not-So-New: –The open Web, Intranets & Extranets, ILS systems, ERM, CMS The Challenge of Integration: –Standard Web technologies are the “glue” for most 2.0 applications--and they’re changing too A New Sense of “Place”: –The “Library Commons” has become a vibrant “innovation lab” for understanding how students use the new tools Technology Supports Community: –Intranets, Extranets and “virtual private networks” remain crucial to community building in firms and in “communities of practice”

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 The Library Commons is Powerful They’re popular--Indiana U’s use doubled Provide pervasive technology Provide effective group spaces Integrate user services: multimedia, IT, term paper support, even more Enable both student work and social time Leveraging technology and influence the role of the “computer lab” –Joan K. Lippincott, Coalition for Networked Information (Learning Spaces, Educause)

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 IRLE: The Setting and the “Story” We have a grand old building We’ve been “pushing” proactive services for years: –Digital conversations –The One Stop Web Shop –Desktop Publishers too –2.0 innovations like Wikis We parleyed service into a new space We learned a lot about how people perceive space, and we positioned ourselves to be seen as “experts” We solidified our roles as innovators in a rapidly changing environment

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 Know the Organizational Setting In our case, we must respond to rapid change in US. research universities Some “Communities of Practice” within the University are converging, others are splitting apart Some questions to ask: –How are teaching and research being approached? –How is community service being approached? –How are students interacting and studying? –What special knowledge can you bring to the mix?

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 Our Community in Context “Organized Research Unit” at UCB 80 faculty from 14 schools and departments A 400-person community of practice within a 45,000 campus setting (students & staff) We support faculty research and doctoral- level study--not undergraduate teaching

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 We “Volunteered” to: Run the Web, Intranet & Extranets Become “publishers” of print & digital publications (i.e., desktop publishing) Manage “online conversations” Take the lead on introducing many new technologies By 2006, we had gained support and were ready to renovate the Library and create a multi-function Library Commons

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 But 2.0 Stretched Our Imaginations We needed more: –Secure document sharing –Interactive Web services in support of faculty, particularly for fieldwork –Webcasting and Podcasting –An better Intranet with full scale “Facebook” –Rapid publication of hard-hitting research on the California workforce--digital and in print, too

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 As IRLE Grew, We Evolved Building from our strength in Web management Blogging--for a six years now Intranet: Started with Zope, moved to Joomla Webcasting & Webconferencing –Tapping services offered by campus –Exploring international applications, US-China Wikis –For the InterDisicplinary Immigration Workshop, using JotSpot Our own “Facebook” using Joomla

ILI-London, October 8, 2007

SCREENSHOT IRENE WEB

ILI-London, October 8, 2007

From Webcasts to Podcasts Our conference presentations are now online--but the campus charges a lot for services Campus podcasts downloads exceed Webcasts—by a wide margin

ILI-London, October 8, 2007

Stuff on Our Radar Social Bookmarking Instant Messaging Facebook and Second Life --But only when these 2.0 tools become relevant to the organization we’re attached to; we’ve got our hands full at the moment

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 The Library Commons In academic settings, it’s a major feature for design The commons fits well with 2.0 technologies The IRLE Library Commons was built as a direct result of activist digital information management

ILI-London, October 8, 2007

What We’ve Learned About Organizations and Library 2.0 Info Pros still have an edge on understanding how content “feeds” communities IT departments, left in charge, often don’t see the potential we do—so take over! Direct oversight of networked information and programming “skill” is very important Recreational and business computing activity are merging, but not as fast some think The larger the (academic) library, the slower the implementation process— so be a self-starter Given that situation, individuals need to take big steps, even risks

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 Individuals and 2.0 Social networking software emphasizes individual voices--exercise your own Free (or nearly free) 2.0 applications enable “intrapreneurs” to get started without waiting on large-scale systems offices “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness that it is for permission” Rank-and-file intrapreneurs can make a serious and positive impact on organizational content strategies and services, and greatly influence leadership

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 Trends to Watch in Organizations Survey: How much “authoring” is going on via the Web, and by whom? (Blogs, Wikis, e- journals) –This can be a major tip-off for community readiness Survey: What are they saying in the disciplines? Action: Create a focus group or small group Action: Try implementing an interactive feature Action: Understand all of the organizational subcultures in your setting

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 In Summary Many organizations—both academic and commercial— lack a comprehensive understanding of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 As a result, intrpreneuring librarians can take the lead in implementations—if they’re willing to take a risk Developing a Library 2.0 game plan does not have to be a monumental task Take a bite-size approach, and start with applications you personally enjoy Communities of practices are changing—stay involved A firm understanding of the organization should guide your implementation strategy

ILI-London, October 8, 2007 Resources and References UVA Digital Library Bookmarks: Missouri River Regional Library Reference Links Database: Joomla: Library Journal Article: “Journey to Library 2.0” by Robin Hastings (April 15, 2007, p. 36) Odeo: Jotspot: Learning Spaces, an Edcause ebook:

ILI-London, October 8, 2007

Content and Commons: Library 2.0 Organizational Strategies Terence K. Huwe Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library University of California, Berkeley Internet Librarian USA Monterey, October 30, 2007