The Library Commons, Library 2.0 and the Research Community: Field Notes from the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) Terence K. Huwe Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library University of California, Berkeley Academic Library 2.0 UC Berkeley, November 2, 2007

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov What I’ll Be Covering Today The synergy between Library 2.0 and physical space-- and how “Library 1.0” acts as a roadmap –The IRLE Library Commons in the context of: IRLE’s research community “culture” The overall academic environment—evolving rapidly How sustained, innovative library services led to the creation of a collaborative Library Commons space The Library Commons as a flexible “information zone” How Academic Library 2.0 challenges us to assume new roles, and can increase political and academic “capital” Time for open discussion

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Library 1.0 and 2.0 in Context We’re a knowledgeable group of delegates and we’re aware that our services and goals are changing in sweeping ways. Nonetheless the key elements of Library 1.0 inform the future. Reference, Taxonomy, and Preservation: –Still count, they’re still needed and we need to save them for the future –To do so we need to fully engage in the marketplace of ideas, and perhaps the “marketplace” itself –We must take new roles in organizations simply to preserve our “Library 1.0” roles, which is crucial There is a “system of professions” and they’re still competing. (Abbott, 1988) The good news: Used strategically, These 3 elements can be parlayed into “killer apps” and are “effective treatments” for the information-challenged

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov The Digital Library, Defined and in a 2.0 Context Here’s my definition, used in my column, “Building Digital Libraries, in Computers in Libraries magazine: “A combination of services, files, objects, metadata, evolving, community-building applications, and people”

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The Digital Library and Library 2.0 Are Elements of of the Information Ecology of the University The Digital Library exists within a diverse, information ecology (Nardi, 1999), including: –Individual desktop landscapes –User themselves and their unique needs –Personal information management styles –Fugitive and ephemeral knowledge sources with hidden value –Physical space, i.e., the Library Commons –Rapidly growing online communities, both recreational and “communities of practice” –The ascendance of multi-disciplinary collaboration and its impact on the academy

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov In Academic Library 2.0: Digital Space meets Physical Space in a fresh context, and Library 2.0 provides a useful framework for thinking about the blend

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Much Has Been Learned Already About Academic Library 2.0 Betsy Wilson’s “New Directions” presentation said it all--research libraries face a “tipping point” Communities are “talking back” everywhere— the press, the critics, politics, civics, commerce Major research libraries everywhere sense this and are making momentous budgetary decisions User communities—all types—are captivated with social networking—online and in person The curriculum and the classroom are evolving All community is “local” –so local solutions are best

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Characteristics and Elements of a Library Commons They’re popular--Indiana U’s use doubled Provide pervasive technology Act as “labs” for understanding user behavior Provide effective group spaces Integrate diverse user services: multimedia, IT, term paper support, even more Enable both student work and social time Leverage technology, influencing the role of the “computer lab” –Joan K. Lippincott, Coalition for Networked Information (Learning Spaces, Educause)

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The IRLE Library Commons and Library 2.0: Field Notes First: Our community described Second: A look at what we’ve been doing since 1994—a tipping point for Library 1.0 Third: How we created the conditions to build a Library Commons by “pushing” digital services of many types Finally: What’ve we learned, what we think may transfer well, and what may intrigue you

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov The IRLE Community in Context “Organized Research Unit” at UCB 80 faculty from 14 schools and departments A 400-person community of practice within an immense overall campus population We support faculty research and doctoral-level study--not undergraduate teaching Since 1994, the IRLE Library has been actively taking on new roles —driven by the impact of networked information on the organization

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov The Library is the Web and Networking Leader We manage “online conversations” We run the Web, Intranet & Extranets We generate print & digital publications We take the lead on introducing many new technologies—Blogs, Wikis, Podcasting Why? We felt that IRLE was under-served with respect to knowledge management

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Underserved How? No one was managing digital conversations in a University that lives by With respect to Web administration and digital content, nobody had a plan, other than the Library team Collectively, our researchers are interested in scholarly communications but unlikely to follow trends We found that if we took certain risky steps, we started getting some good returns on investment We found that by being active in every digital arena we could find, we were keeping reference and collection development relevant This kind of activism has been a major challenge, given UC’s fiscal turbulence and the diverse faculty opinions about libraries However, it’s been worth it.

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov We Took A Volunteer Spirit --Because we believed that the social uses of technology were playing second fiddle to “administrative computing,” and we were the only local group with a sense of the potential created by the Web and the upheaval in scholarly communication

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov By 2000 the Library Was the Digital “Go To” Shop Effectively managing: –listservs (1993) –The Web, including graphic design (1994) –Web publications into print—thus “Born Digital” content gains a parallel second life (1999) –Blogs (2002) –Wikis (2006) –Manage Working Paper Series (1999) –Oh yes, and we keep on doing reference…which they need most of all

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Technology Has Stretched Our Imaginations Our research community needs more: –Secure document sharing –Interactive Web services in support of faculty, particularly for fieldwork –Webcasting and Podcasting These organizational needs opened the way for the idea of a Library Commons –But the space must support a research setting —with distinct needs more similar to a foundation or private research outfit than teaching settings

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov We’ve Found that 2.0 Tools Go Well with Legacy Systems--and Can Also Influence 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”

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov A 2.0 Discovery: Web 2.0 technologies make individual voices more distinctive and more influential. It is possible, during the 2.0 era, for individuals to have a much greater impact on large organizations—because they can take quick action using new technology

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov An Overview of IRLE 2.0 Activity The diversity of our service portfolio informs the progression we’ve seen towards an enlivened and vibrant physical space The diversity of our service portfolio informs the progression we’ve seen towards an enlivened and vibrant physical space

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Immigration Wiki User Survey: 75 % thought they “Wikis were a good idea” 100 % said “they had no time to learn new technologies like this” 80 % said they “didn’t think they needed a file- sharing/repository tool like this” 90 % said they believed they were very skilled at finding e-journals and other online knowledge resources Most popular resources: Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, JSTOR, Proquest, historical newspaper sources

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov We Concluded… It was not a time to throw a new tech platform at these folks—they were working on the “diss” (dissertation) We found we agreed that their search skills were in fact good, better than average, and less “inflated” than many surveys find We decided another sort of tool might work better for them

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov SCREENSHOT IRENE WEB

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Webcasting and Podcasting There’s the campus service—excellent, but on the pricey side There’s Odeo, and Apple Leopard for lower-cost, quick starts that don’t involve the campus

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Podcasting Can Go Local with Leopard’s Release by Apple With the release of Leopard last week, Apple promised to launch a low-cost podcasting setup What’s needed: a Mac (Mini OK) in the screening room, a Mac server, and disk space— lots of it We’re going to propose this setup so we can build a local archive—and beat the $1800 per- event setup cost that the campus charges Tech staff elsewhere on campus are checking it out—a stable platform is expected in a few months

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New Life for the Intranet Our circa 2001 Zope-based Intranet went dormant at our past Director’s request In 2006, we reintroduced a Joomla-based Intranet, to facilitate community building and administrative business transactions –Both are open source platforms –Joomla is PHP-driven, so it was much more in line with our Web design standards

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The Long-Term Strategy: Enhance Community with New Technology That means being very selective about what to implement All of these initiatives were achieved without major support from campus systems offices Standard library services —ILL, document delivery, etc—dovetail very effectively New Horizons: Data Stewardship, faculty working groups

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Introducing New Technologies Built Political Support The faculty are independent, but are loyal and have “been there” for us over the years When our leadership changed, our new director wanted to renew both the scholarly mission and the building/physical space Suddenly, an opportunity opened to create a Library Commons—and we were ready

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov Library Commons Lesson No. 1: Start at the Beginning Comments about the old library: “Every time I go in there it feels like a mausoleum” I need what you have but I hate that yucky linoleum” “What do you guys DO anyway?”

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov No. 2: Education In six months we had convinced our faculty boss on the value of four 2.0 principles for the Library Commons: –An information Gateway –The “Commons” as community space that could be used flexibly –IRLE should pledge that renovated space would remain devoted to “research support” –in all forms –A continued balance of digital and print collections and the centrality of people in the new Library

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov No. 3: Long Term Buy-In The Library Commons Became a Popular Project As work began, we kept inviting new stakeholders into the project and to integrate benefits for everyone, including: –Program meeting space (non-private) –Meeting and lecture space (by reservation) –High quality Visiting Scholar space –A comfortable, “living room” feel –Integrated digital projection –AirBears was in place –…But we kept the books

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov And So, A Library Commons Everybody loves it Everybody wants to use it People are rubbing elbows and mixing it up Naps are great The staff have new offices The Information Gateway is open to anyone, for any sort of computing (search, Word, Excel, etc) –5 systems Calnet ID enabled –2 systems open for anyone to use –Sheet-feeding scanner attached

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So What Have We Learned? People love beautiful space. The space instills a positive feeling. Integrated network access is a huge draw The relocation of the book collection created a groundswell of support for print--increasing print buying budgets The combination of a beautiful Library Commons and a vibrant outreach program is powerful, and staff have a loyal following now Our budget grew, our FTE grew, and space did not shrink, but grew We’re busier than ever but we believe we’re doing the right kind of work Library 2.0 technologies, applied strategically, are crucial tools for academic librarians The academy is searching for ideas in order to use technology, and it cannot afford trivializing “Library Skill” Activism in our work is more common, and more necessary Many groups have paid us site visits—NASA Langley & Goddard, Sun Microsystems, Federal Reserve Bank

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov In Summary There’s a new synergy between Library 2.0 technology and library physical space The staff committed to taking the lead on technology, and this strengthened our position 2.0 technologies are collaborative, and you can introduce them in “bite-sized” increments. Perseverance is required Match technology choices to known community traits —don’t try to force technology if it doesn’t serve an obvious purpose Because of this legwork, when funds became available, we were ready The Library Commons reinvigorated “1.0” work, like collection development of print materials Communities of practices are changing Understanding the direction of change should guide your implementation strategy

Academic Library 2.0 | 2 Nov 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: Abbott, Andrew Delano. The system of professions: An essay on the division of expert labor. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Learning Spaces, an Edcause ebook: Nardi, Bonnie A. Information ecologies : Using technology with heart. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1999.

The Library Commons, Library 2.0 and the Research Community: Field Notes from the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) Terence K. Huwe Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library University of California, Berkeley Academic Library 2.0 UC Berkeley, November 2, 2007