Emerging Technologies In Library Websites

Winter 2006
Heidi Blanton and Sarah Karolski | Wayne State University
1
Blogging, RSS, and the OPAC
Emerging Technologies in Library Websites

Blog (or Weblog)
Winter 2006
2
A frequently updated website managed by one author or a group.
Uses specific software to post, update, and organize content for a targeted audience.
Started in 1995 as way to organize and share links on personal websites.
Around 2000 the blogging revolution begins. Blogger launched in August 1999.
In 2004 blogs became more mainstream. Now being used by corporations, news, and political groups.

Found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI
Winter 2006
3
Blogs in Plain English

Blogging and Libraries
Winter 2006
4
Blogging Pros
Marketing library services and events
Easy to update
Website stays current
Community participation
Many Free & Open Source Options
Blogging Cons
Need people to maintain regularly
More vulnerable to comment abuse

Example: Ann Arbor District Library (aadl.org)
Winter 2006
5
Marketing Library Services & Events
Many levels of information
Main page presents patrons with broad information
Different blogs help direct patrons to specific information

AADL Website Features
Winter 2006
6
Main page is a blog that highlights featured events
Subject based blogs available throughout site
Collaborative effort by library staff
Comments are enabled and edited for inappropriate language

Found at: http://www.aadl.org/node/401
Winter 2006
7
AADL Comment Moderation

Blogging & Libraries
Winter 2006
8
Enhances Library Services
Encourage Community Involvement
Blogs for book clubs or teen groups
Blogs for training and classes
Plus many others!
Easy Archival
Instant archiving when published
Automatic, searchable index created
List of Blogging Libraries:
Blogging Libraries Wiki
http://bit.ly/blogging-libraries

Found at: http://www.westportlibrary.org/bookblog/
Winter 2006
9
Westport Public Library Book Blog

Found at: http://sjcpl.lib.in.us/gameblog/
Winter 2006
10
St. Joseph County Public Library Game Blog

RSS Integration
Winter 2006
11
What is RSS?
Stands for “Really Simple Syndication”
A file format used to aggregate content to online services, client software, websites, or blogs.
RSS goes hand-in-hand with blogging software.
Tied into blog, when blog is updated the XML file is updated and then the newsreader is notified

Found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU
Winter 2006
12
RSS In Plain English

Found at: http://searchengineland.com/search-illustrated-the-power-of-rss-feeds-12084
Winter 2006
13
Power of RSS

RSS and Libraries
Winter 2006
14
RSS Pros
Streamline information
Most currently updated information comes directly to patron
Add instant content to your site from other sources
Examples: Local events, weather, news
Offer patrons access to their account information through their newsreaders
Holds, checkouts, due dates from their online accounts.
Self-Administering
Do not need to maintain a list of subscribers for newsletters
RSS Cons
Many sites still don’t support RSS feeds
Some aggregators don’t support every format (RSS, Atom, RDF, etc.)
Users may visit your site infrequently
Smaller hit counts
Services like FeedBurner can track feed circulation

Found at: http://www.hclib.org/pub/search/RSS.cfm
Winter 2006
15
Henepin County Library RSS Feeds

Found at: http://www.code4lib.org/2006/robertson
Winter 2006
16
The Future of the OPAC
Ways libraries can improve their OPACs
From code4lib “Lipstick on a Pig: 7 Ways to Improve the Sex Life of Your OPAC”
book cover images
book reviews
live circulation usage history
recommendation engine
RSS
live librarian support (link to virtual reference)
shortcut, durable links to specific items

The WordPress OPAC (WPopac)
Winter 2006
17
Library Catalog as a Blog
Automatic RSS Feeds
User Tools
Find Similar Items
Request Holds (redirecting to account login)
Add to Delicious
Comments
Static URL
Archive
New entries to the catalog are at the top

Found at: http://library.plymouth.edu/
Winter 2006
18
WPopac Now Scriblio

AquaBrowser: Queens Library
Winter 2006
19
Search
Uses simple query box, similar to current OPACs
Discover
Visual Map (or “word cloud”)
Displays other relevant search terms to help users find related information
Refine
Filters original query by Format, Subject, Genre, etc.

Found at: http://aqua.queenslibrary.org/
Winter 2006
20
AquaBrowser: Queens Library

Conclusion
Winter 2006
21
Blogs
Makes it easier for libraries and patrons to participate in their communities
Provides a forum for discussion on library services and events
RSS
Quick and easy way for patrons to subscribe to library information
Allows other users to put your content in their sites
OPAC
Blogs & RSS are just a few of the tools that can make the library OPAC more user friendly and efficient

Additional Resources
Winter 2006
22
Wikipedia definition of blog: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weblog
Why and How to Use Blogs to Promote Your Library Services: http://www.infotoday.com/mls/nov03/fichter.shtml
Wikipedia definition of RSS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)
FeedBurner: http://www.feedburner.com/
RSS FAQ: http://www.johncletheroe.org/pc_int/rssfaq/index.htm
AquaBrowser: http://www.medialab.nl/

Emerging Technologies In Library Websites

by Heidi Blanton on Nov 30, 2009

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

3 Embeds 15

Statistics

Emerging Technologies In Library Websites — Presentation Transcript

http://www.heidigoseek.com	7
http://portfolio.sapphirestream.com	7
http://www.slideshare.net	1