Local Library Presentation @ Computers in Libraries 2008

Going Local in the Library… Web 2.0, Library 2.0, Local 2.0 Charles Lyons University at Buffalo Blog: Dewey & Main [email_address] com

Overview What is the local web? Examples of local 2.0 Examples of local library 2.0 Why libraries are primed for local

“ organize the world 's information and make it universally accessible and useful” Google moon Google Sky Google Mars Google earth

But What About Your Backyard? Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 You Are Here

The Internet Puts the World in Your Coffee Cup… but not your Community (not yet) The Internet makes it easy to sip globally , but not locally (so far) www.fairtradenorfolk.org.uk/

What’s the value in knowing that there are 4,514 barbers “near” us right now? Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 No hair

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 In ur community, informin ur localz

The real potential of the Local Web is something deeper… or more 2.0 or more hyper

The local web is diverse Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Local Search Engines Local People Photos, Video, etc. Maps Local Media Social Networks Local (Gov) Data Blogs

The local web is social user-generated, participatory, amateur, civic, grassroots, citizen’s journalism Old New

The local web is localized information about neighborhoods, communities, blocks, streets, buildings www.handmaps.org Old New

The local web is… The joining of the real world and the virtual world Old New

The local web is… bringing a sense of place to the Internet Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Are libraries bringing a sense of place to the Internet?

Local history, heritage, genealogy Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Community information Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Yes, libraries are bringing a sense of place to the Internet… But can they do more?

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Can local libraries… Be participatory? Be hyperlocal? Join the virtual and real?

Everyday life is (still) local…

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The Internet is getting more local…

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Web 2.0 has many local applications…

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Libraries are community-focused institutions…

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Libraries have experience with (local) information…

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An opportunity is emerging for

libraries to get local-er

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Some local things libraries can do…

Practice Local-fu… become expert users of local resources and use them to identify locally relevant info

Be a Vocal Local… raise awareness and assist the community in using online local resources

Widen the Local Lens…

broaden the scope local data collection

Be a Yokel… become active participants in community-focused resources

Create Community… use 2.0 tools to create their own local resources

The local web Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Local Search Engines Local People Photos, Video, etc. Maps Local Media Social Networks Local (Gov) Data Blogs

Local Search Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Libraries Creating Custom Local Search Engines Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Local Blogs… placeblogs, metroblogs, neighblogs Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Libraries Place Blogging Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Local News

Libraries Creating Online Communities Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Local Data

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Libraries… Local Data Aggregation

Wikipedia… how about Localpedia Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

GeoFeed, GeoRSS Local Photos

Libraries Aggregating Local Images Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Maps

Library Maps Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006

Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Why libraries… local can be cheap

Why libraries… they are truly local!

The best local

sites don’t/

can’t generate

revenue

They are run by

passionate

locals , not in it

for the money

Why libraries… the local web is still young

No clear victors in the local web wars yet

Local info for many smaller communities hasn’t made it on to the web yet… many types of local info are still buried deep

Why libraries… geotagging is for geeks

The identification of locally relevant information is not yet automatable

Determining localness requires human input… how about librarian input?

Why libraries… the trust factor Unique opportunity for libraries to build on their status as trusted local institutions and become better recognized as a source for local information

Why libraries… local aligns with many missions of the library

Supports libraries goals… build community, encourage civic engagement, being community-focused

Going local can establish support for the library, raise awareness of the value of the library, make the library more relevant in the daily lives of the community it serves

Why libraries… academic libraries too

Students required to use “real-world” examples for their studies

Students who want to work locally

Encourage civic engagement among students and faculty

University/community or town/gown relations

Local economic development

Where does the library (want to) fit in the local infosphere? Locals: people in the community Local Search Engines Local Niche Websites Local 2.0: blogs, wikis, online communities, maps Local Government Local Media: newspapers, TV, radio Local Library? Local Information

Is the library Pluto… in danger of losing its local planethood? Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 Locals: people in the community Local Search Engines Local Niche Websites Local 2.0: blogs, wikis, online communities, maps Local Government Local Media: newspapers, TV, radio Local Library? Local Information

The Long Local Tail Volume of Information Global Local Search Engines Libraries? Genealogy Photos, images Demographic Data Local History Business Directories Current local News Being Pluto is not a bad thing Manuscripts Books!? Social Services Historical Newspapers Building Permits Obituaries Death certificates Naturalization records Cemetery records Audio files Historical magazines Crime reports Restaurant inspections

The local library at the center of the local infosphere? Locals: people in the community Local Search Engines Local Niche Websites Local 2.0: blogs, wikis, online communities, maps Local Government Local Media: newspapers, TV, radio Local Library? Local Information

ibrary Charles Lyons ( [email_address] com) – Dewey & Main – September 5, 2006 ocal

Thanks! Questions?