Web 2.0 in Libraries: The Tools of Web 2.0 Meredith Farkas SLA Click University Live! January 24, 2007

Presenter Meredith Farkas Distance Learning Librarian at Norwich University (VT). Author - Social Software in Libraries . Columnist – “Technology in Practice” column in American Libraries . Blogger - Information Wants to be Free and TechEssence . Wiki manager - Library Success , ALA 2005 and 2006 , etc.

Meredith Farkas

Distance Learning Librarian at Norwich University (VT).

Author - Social Software in Libraries .

Columnist – “Technology in Practice” column in American Libraries .

Blogger - Information Wants to be Free and TechEssence .

Wiki manager - Library Success , ALA 2005 and 2006 , etc.

What we will explore The Tools of Web 2.0 RSS Wikis Social Bookmarking Custom Search Instant Messaging How these are being used in libraries Strategies for implementing Web 2.0 tools in libraries

The Tools of Web 2.0

RSS

Wikis

Social Bookmarking

Custom Search

Instant Messaging

How these are being used in libraries

Strategies for implementing Web 2.0 tools in libraries

RSS: The antidote to information overload RSS is format for syndicating content on the Web. Based on XML Enables you to view content from different sites on a single page. Many Web sites have RSS feeds these days if they have information that is updated regularly (examples: CNN , NY Times , Burlington Free Press ).

RSS is format for syndicating content on the Web.

Based on XML

Enables you to view content from different sites on a single page.

Many Web sites have RSS feeds these days if they have information that is updated regularly (examples: CNN , NY Times , Burlington Free Press ).

RSS lacks information about how the file should be presented.

How Can You Read RSS Feeds? Syndicated on a Website using JavaScript Having new content sent to you via e-mail. In an aggregator Web site or desktop application used for displaying multiple RSS feeds (from 2 to 2,000 and more) Most common way of using RSS Most people have used an RSS aggregators and don't know it (Example: MyYahoo ! ) Popular Web-based aggregators Bloglines Rojo Netvibes

Syndicated on a Website using JavaScript

Having new content sent to you via e-mail.

In an aggregator

Web site or desktop application used for displaying multiple RSS feeds (from 2 to 2,000 and more)

Most common way of using RSS

Most people have used an RSS aggregators and don't know it (Example: MyYahoo ! )

Popular Web-based aggregators

Bloglines

Rojo

Netvibes

RSS Aggregator: Bloglines

Subscribing to RSS Feeds: Getting Started Choose an aggregator (Web-based or desktop) Find RSS feeds for your favorite Web site (look for or ) Subscribe to those feeds in your aggregator Start reading!

Choose an aggregator (Web-based or desktop)

Find RSS feeds for your favorite Web site (look for or )

Subscribe to those feeds in your aggregator

Start reading!

How are libraries using RSS?

Dynamically Updated Subject Guide http://meredith.wolfwater.com/rssjs/irsg.html This is just an example of what you can do with RSS feeds for pushing subject-specific content.

http://meredith.wolfwater.com/rssjs/irsg.html

This is just an example of what you can do with RSS feeds for pushing subject-specific content.

Other ways libraries are using RSS Subject guides Journal feeds RSS feeds from the ILS New books feeds Search feeds Feeds of checked-out books and holds RSS feeds from databases Search feeds Subject bibliographies

Subject guides

Journal feeds

RSS feeds from the ILS

New books feeds

Search feeds

Feeds of checked-out books and holds

RSS feeds from databases

Search feeds

Subject bibliographies

Wikis: Collaboration Made Simple Allows people to collaboratively develop a Web site without any tech-savvy (no HTML) Like a content management system Wiki = quick (in Hawaiian) All community members can add to or edit the work of others

Allows people to collaboratively develop a Web site without any tech-savvy (no HTML)

Like a content management system

Wiki = quick (in Hawaiian)

All community members can add to or edit the work of others

Why wiki? Easy to use Web-based Simple syntax Anyone can make changes Free and open source options Searchable and browse-able

Easy to use

Web-based

Simple syntax

Anyone can make changes

Free and open source options

Searchable and browse-able

Criticisms of Wikis Disorganized Too open No control Vandalism and spam Wikis aren't for everyone. If control is a major issue with the site you're developing, then a wiki may not be right for your project.

Disorganized

Too open

No control

Vandalism and spam

Wikis aren't for everyone. If control is a major issue with the site you're developing, then a wiki may not be right for your project.

Wikis in Practice

Wiki as Subject Guide

Wiki as Website/CMS

Wiki as Staff Intranet

Wiki as Knowledgebase

Other Uses of Wikis Conference planning Collaborative document editing Technology Instruction Manuals Meeting management

Conference planning

Collaborative document editing

Technology Instruction Manuals

Meeting management

Starting Your Own Wiki 1. Choose wiki software Wiki Farms:Managed on a company’s server. Less control but easier to use. PBWiki (pbwiki.com) WetPaint (www.wetpaint.com). Server software: You install it on your own server. More control and flexibility. More work involved in management. MediaWiki (www.mediawiki.org) PmWiki (twiki.org) The WikiMatrix can help you choose the right software for your needs

1. Choose wiki software

Wiki Farms:Managed on a company’s server. Less control but easier to use.

PBWiki (pbwiki.com)

WetPaint (www.wetpaint.com).

Server software: You install it on your own server. More control and flexibility. More work involved in management.

MediaWiki (www.mediawiki.org)

PmWiki (twiki.org)

The WikiMatrix can help you choose the right software for your needs

Starting a Wiki (cont’d) 2. Install software to prevent spam 3. Seed the wiki with content 4. Create documentation for wiki novices 5. Start publicizing it!

2. Install software to prevent spam

3. Seed the wiki with content

4. Create documentation for wiki novices

5. Start publicizing it!

Social Bookmarking: Making Sense of the Web Web-based bookmarking system Users create descriptive tags for items rather than putting them in folders People can see your bookmarks and you can see theirs Tags make Web sites more “re-findable” You can search by tags to find interesting things other people bookmarked

Web-based bookmarking system

Users create descriptive tags for items rather than putting them in folders

People can see your bookmarks and you can see theirs

Tags make Web sites more “re-findable”

You can search by tags to find interesting things other people bookmarked

Social bookmarking services del.icio.us furl Connotea CiteULike

del.icio.us

furl

Connotea

CiteULike

Getting Started Choose a social bookmarking service Download a toolbar widget for quick bookmarking When you are on a page you want to bookmark, click on the widget Enter the tags you want to use to describe and submit bookmark Browse other people’s tags to find cool stuff

Choose a social bookmarking service

Download a toolbar widget for quick bookmarking

When you are on a page you want to bookmark, click on the widget

Enter the tags you want to use to describe and submit bookmark

Browse other people’s tags to find cool stuff

Tagging a Website is Easy!

What you can do with social bookmarking For the individual Remembering interesting Web sites Keeping track of research Finding interesting Web resources in your subject by looking at other people’s tags.

For the individual

Remembering interesting Web sites

Keeping track of research

Finding interesting Web resources in your subject by looking at other people’s tags.

Institutional bookmarking

Subject Bibliographies

Collaboratively-developed resource list

Custom Search Why make your patrons search the whole Web? Lots of irrelevant retrievals Lots of garbage You can create a search engine that only searches the sites you tell it to. Only authoritative sites in a specific subject.

Why make your patrons search the whole Web?

Lots of irrelevant retrievals

Lots of garbage

You can create a search engine that only searches the sites you tell it to.

Only authoritative sites in a specific subject.

Google CSE

So easy to do! Create an account with Google or Rollyo (or another “roll your own search” provider) Create a list of URLs you want the search engine to search. Embed the search on your site.

Create an account with Google or Rollyo (or another “roll your own search” provider)

Create a list of URLs you want the search engine to search.

Embed the search on your site.

What is Instant Messaging? Allows a user interact synchronously over the internet with anyone in the world

Allows a user interact synchronously over the internet with anyone in the world

Why Instant Messaging (IM)? Your patrons are probably using it Pew Internet and American Life survey on Instant Messaging more than 40% of adults in the U.S. (53 million adults) use IM regularly 24% of adults use IM more than email Your patrons may access the library remotely. It's free! Easy to learn how to use and get up and running Lightweight product compared to commercial chat options Lots of success stories (list of approximately 100 libraries using IM)

Your patrons are probably using it

Pew Internet and American Life survey on Instant Messaging

more than 40% of adults in the U.S. (53 million adults) use IM regularly

24% of adults use IM more than email

Your patrons may access the library remotely.

It's free!

Easy to learn how to use and get up and running

Lightweight product compared to commercial chat options

Lots of success stories (list of approximately 100 libraries using IM)

Setting up IM Reference Register accounts You can use one popular service like AIM or multiple ( MSN , Yahoo , AIM, GTalk , etc.) Choose software (it's free) Popular options: GAIM , Trillian , Meebo (hint: Meebo is Web-based so no download needed) Determine hours of service Develop policies Train staff Market service to patrons

Register accounts

You can use one popular service like AIM or multiple ( MSN , Yahoo , AIM, GTalk , etc.)

Choose software (it's free)

Popular options: GAIM , Trillian , Meebo (hint: Meebo is Web-based so no download needed)

Determine hours of service

Develop policies

Train staff

Market service to patrons

You can even embed a chat interface on your Website! This way, patrons don’t even need an account with an IM service to chat.

This way, patrons don’t even need an account with an IM service to chat.

Strategies for Implementing 2.0 Tools Avoid technolust (technology should fill a need). How will this improve library services? Will patrons use it (you may need to do surveys)? Involve staff at all levels in tech planning. Involve IT in tech planning. Play with technology! Kick the tires!

Avoid technolust (technology should fill a need).

How will this improve library services? Will patrons use it (you may need to do surveys)?

Involve staff at all levels in tech planning.

Involve IT in tech planning.

Play with technology! Kick the tires!

Strategies (cont’d) Consider the maintenance burden and sustainability of any technology. Do you need a policy? In marketing, focus on the functionality, not the tool. Offer trainings for staff and patrons.

Consider the maintenance burden and sustainability of any technology.

Do you need a policy?

In marketing, focus on the functionality, not the tool.

Offer trainings for staff and patrons.

Any Questions? Meredith Farkas [email_address] http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/