The Tools of Web 2.0

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.

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

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 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

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!

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.

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

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

Why wiki?
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.

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

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

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!

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

Social bookmarking services
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

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.

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.

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.

What is Instant Messaging?
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)

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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The Tools of Web 2.0

by Meredith Farkas on Feb 18, 2007

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The Tools of Web 2.0 — Presentation Transcript