The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller and Underfunded Libraries Sarah Houghton-Jan Digital Futures Manager, San Jose Public Library Author, LibrarianInBlack.net

LOL...whatsie? #1: LOLcats are photos, of cats usually, with funny, gramatically incorrect captions #2: The captions often play on memes and “in-jokes” previously generated by other LOLcat photos #3: They spout all sorts of wisdom.

#1: LOLcats are photos, of cats usually, with funny, gramatically incorrect captions

#2: The captions often play on memes and “in-jokes” previously generated by other LOLcat photos

#3: They spout all sorts of wisdom.

LOLcat

The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller & Underfunded Libraries

#1: Talk with customers Email Instant messaging (AIM, Meebo, Plugoo)‏ Chat Widgets (IM or web-based chat window on webpages)‏ Voice Over IP (VOIP like Skype and other services)‏ Video Chat (some IM clients, Skype too!)‏ Text messaging (SMS)‏

Email

Instant messaging (AIM, Meebo, Plugoo)‏

Chat Widgets (IM or web-based chat window on webpages)‏

Voice Over IP (VOIP like Skype and other services)‏

Video Chat (some IM clients, Skype too!)‏

Text messaging (SMS)‏

UNLV's IM Service

Put chat windows and “assistance” links where customers are UPSET Screenshot courtesy of David Lee King, Topeka Shawnee County Public Library

Text Messaging (SMS)‏ Cell phones and SMS are now more popular than ever Offer both circulation and reference services via SMS ($)‏ “ For pay” (rather cheap) and hack options (which have security and feature issues)‏

Cell phones and SMS are now more popular than ever

Offer both circulation and reference services via SMS ($)‏

“ For pay” (rather cheap) and hack options (which have security and feature issues)‏

Reference Service via SMS

#2: Interact with Customers Welcome comments on everything Respond like a human being Example: offer Online Book Clubs with a mix of staff and customers

Welcome comments on everything

Respond like a human being

Example: offer Online Book Clubs with a mix of staff and customers

San Jose Public Library's Teen Book Club on LibraryThing

Blogs for Recommendations Blogs (each entry is its own review) -or- Wikis (subject/age based pages w/ reviews)‏ Encourage full staff participation Offer a template w/ tags and categories Welcome customer comments and entries

Blogs (each entry is its own review)

-or- Wikis (subject/age based pages w/ reviews)‏

Encourage full staff participation

Offer a template w/ tags and categories

Welcome customer comments and entries

#5: Be Engaged Use EngagedPatrons.org (free and low-cost Web 2.0 services for libraries run by Glenn Peterson of Hennepin County Lib.)‏ Events Calendar with online registration Blogs Google Maps mashup for library locations Library contact form RSS feeds + other stuff too!

Use EngagedPatrons.org (free and low-cost Web 2.0 services for libraries run by Glenn Peterson of Hennepin County Lib.)‏

Events Calendar with online registration

Blogs

Google Maps mashup for library locations

Library contact form

RSS feeds + other stuff too!

#3: Be Social Be present where your users are Be real Be reliable and continuously new

Be present where your users are

Be real

Be reliable and continuously new

$10 = 5000 Facebook Flyers to targeted audiences Facebook Flyer image by Steve Lawson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary/1546577200 CHEAP ADVERTISING!!!

#4: Use Multimedia Photographs / Images Podcasts Videocasts Games

Photographs / Images

Podcasts

Videocasts

Games

Westmont Public Library http://www.flickr.com/photos/westmontlibrary/549380055/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/westmontlibrary/549380055/

Exploit Image Generators GeneratorBlog.blogspot.com ImageGenerator.org ImageChef.com

GeneratorBlog.blogspot.com

ImageGenerator.org

ImageChef.com

Podcasting & Videocasting people who can talk/sing digital microphone (free) Audacity (free)‏ a Blogger blog (free)‏ people who aren't camera-shy + digital video camera ($100+)‏ + Avidemux editing software (free)‏ + a Blogger blog (free)‏

people who can talk/sing

digital microphone (free)

Audacity (free)‏

a Blogger blog (free)‏

#6: Offer Treatsies People like shiny objects, Ask them what they want. Then find them some.

People like shiny objects,

Ask them what they want.

Then find them some.

There are many of a treat in HCPL's catalog

Staff Avatars! a la Nashville Public Library

a la Nashville Public Library

“ My Account” Text Messages

#7: Exploit the Free Free web hosting, statistics, and web gadgets‏

Free web hosting, statistics, and web gadgets‏

Tap the Google Wonderland

#8: Respect Customers You never know when you're lunch. Expect the best, not the worst. Treat customers with respect, regardless of age of which services they use.

You never know when you're lunch.

Expect the best, not the worst.

Treat customers with respect, regardless of age of which services they use.

#9: Offer Users Choices How to contact you How you communicate with them How they find things online What they find online (content & format)‏

How to contact you

How you communicate with them

How they find things online

What they find online (content & format)‏

Mashups = Choices People are mashing up your library's content. Why not advertise that? Library ELF: account tracking and alerts through e-mail, RSS, and text messaging Library LookUp: click on this bookmarklet when on a webpage with an ISBN to look up item in the catalog LibX Toolbar: Direct access in web browser to catalog and more (other toolbars too)‏

People are mashing up your library's content.

Why not advertise that?

Library ELF: account tracking and alerts through e-mail, RSS, and text messaging

Library LookUp: click on this bookmarklet when on a webpage with an ISBN to look up item in the catalog

LibX Toolbar: Direct access in web browser to catalog and more (other toolbars too)‏

Library Elf

Good Catalog = Choices Can’t change ILS? Consider an overlay! AquaBrowser ($)‏ Endeca ($)‏ LibraryThing for Libraries (fewer $)‏ VuFind (open source)‏ WorldCat Local ($)‏

Can’t change ILS? Consider an overlay!

AquaBrowser ($)‏

Endeca ($)‏

LibraryThing for Libraries (fewer $)‏

VuFind (open source)‏

WorldCat Local ($)‏

LibraryThing for Libraries

#10: Keep going! Try new things! Push administrators (they like 24/7 nature of web services, minimal staffing and cheap costs, highest ROI in the library)‏ Rejoice in failures (it means you're pushing boundaries!)‏

Try new things!

Push administrators (they like 24/7 nature of web services, minimal staffing and cheap costs, highest ROI in the library)‏

Rejoice in failures (it means you're pushing boundaries!)‏

And why do we do all of this?

Because we're proud of our services, and there's nothing worse than blending in...

Questions? Sarah Houghton-Jan web: www.LibrarianInBlack.net email: [email_address] IM: LibrarianInBlack Skype: LibrairanInBlack Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack Ask her anything. Really!

Sarah Houghton-Jan

web: www.LibrarianInBlack.net

email: [email_address]

IM: LibrarianInBlack

Skype: LibrairanInBlack

Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack