10 Lol Cat Laws Of Web Services For Smaller Underfunded Libraries

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.

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)‏

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)‏

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

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

#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!

#3: Be Social
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

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

Exploit Image Generators
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)‏

#6: Offer Treatsies
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

“ My Account” Text Messages

#7: Exploit the Free
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.

#9: Offer Users Choices
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)‏

Library Elf

Good Catalog = Choices
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!)‏

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!

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10 Lol Cat Laws Of Web Services For Smaller Underfunded Libraries

by Sarah Houghton on Mar 30, 2009

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