Promises and Perils of Web 2.0 in Special Libraries

Promises and Perils of Web 2.0 in Special Libraries KSU-SLA Symposium February 28, 2009 Michelle Kraft, MLS AHIP Senior Medical Librarian Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library

Web 2.0 Connecting Users to Libraries
Not a new concept just new tools
More resources are online, need more online connections
Society and users are changing, they are more mobile and more independent
Gen X and Millennial in the workforce

A Contrast of Generations (cont.) Forrester Research http://www.forrester.com/Events/Content/0,5180,1191,00.ppt#336,9,A contrast of generations (cont.) Resist change and are uncomfortable with doing things differently but generally find coping strategies to live in this change-driven world Are flexible, adaptable, and comfortable with the uncertainty that characterizes their change-driven world Tend to be more text-based learners who are careful observers Tend to be more visual and kinesthetic learners Like the role of listener or viewer Prefer to interact with peers Prefer to receive instruction in a logical sequence and understand what they are going to learn and its purpose Prefer to “construct” their own knowledge from experiences Older Workers Millennials

A Contrast of Generations Forrester Research http://www.forrester.com/Events/Content/0,5180,1191,00.ppt#335,8,A contrast of generations Are happy when the technology works; show more patience but also experience frustration; tend to do less experimenting with technology but use it for the purpose it was intended and in the manner instructed Have little tolerance for delays; expect Web pages to load immediately; generally respond quickly to email Like individual work and are more teacher-centered with teacher as the “sage” Like to work in peer groups and are more learner-centered with teacher as a guide Read text first and then review graphics Prefer to look at graphics and then maybe read the text Like to proceed step-by-step and do tasks in order Like to parallel process and multi-task i.e. listen to music, talk on the phone, and answer email all at the same time Used to receiving information linearly, thinking about it and digesting it Used to receiving information quickly and from multiple sources in real time and processing immediately Older Workers Millennials

Special Libraries Users and 2.0 Technologies
Defined user group with defined needs
Easier to find tools that address these needs
Education efforts more specific
Specific computer and software platforms
Design and maintain for one platform
Narrows down types of tools
Subject specific core library resource
Narrows down the potential tools
Increase usage of library resources

2.0 Tool Usage in Special Libraries Amanda Etches-Johnson blogwithoutalibrary.net

Most Common Applications
Communication: Internal and External
Current awareness services
Reference Services

Communication
Reference desk wiki or blog
Internal - active issues, tick sheet, desk schedule
External – product reviews, policy changes, user education
What’s new blog
New products, construction updates, newsletter

Communication
IM or microblogging, videos
Chat Ref, Chat Collab,
Tutorials
Outreach
Facebook, SecondLife
External website

Government on Second Life

Current Awareness and RSS
Feeds of TOC to journals, news feeds
Saved searches on databases
New additions to the catalog

Reference Aids
Subject wikis
Each subject guide/page is a wiki allowing for quick additions and changes
del.icio.us as the subject guide
Social bookmarking within catalog
Search by user tags in addition to subject
Bookmark journal literature
Connotea, CiteULike

Common Barriers
Staff and patron buy in
IT
Corporate policies
Many corporations, hospitals, etc. don’t have written policies on blogging, wikis, IM etc.
Image branding forces use of tools

Buy In
Staff buy in
Unfamiliar with new tools
Time factors for learning and using
Too trendy
User buy in
Unfamiliar with new tools
Confused by terminology
Other concerns

IT Department
Intranet vs. Internet
Two sites = twice the work
Public vs. private (proprietary) information
Off site access?
Firewalls and IPs
Blocking of content
IP range changes and issues
Off site access?

IT Department
Bandwidth
Large bandwidth programs often blocked
Security Protocols
Confidentiality
Sensitive data
Hardware and Software Standards
Computer specs
Operating systems
Software installation

Corporate Policies
Many corporations or hospitals don’t have written policies on blogging, wikis, IM etc.
Job duties, work time?
Viewed externally?
Image and branding forces use of tools
Company web content management system does work with blogs or wikis
Very concerned about logos, names, etc. on off site products.

How to Avoid the Perils
Know your users
Needs assessment
Build support
Focus on solving the problem not the tool
Know the technology
When to involve IT and when to experiment without IT
Careful branding
Be extremely careful with externally available applications

How to Avoid the Perils
Pick your battles and tools!
Easy to implement, less resistance
Keep usage statistics!
Google Analytics
Document and collect anecdotal evidence
Pair it up with a pet project
Cost savings, patient safety, etc.

Final Thoughts
Think about the users
Get to know the IT department
Patient persistence is key

Promises and Perils of Web 2.0 in Special Libraries

by Michelle Kraft on Feb 27, 2009

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