Five tips for implementing social software in your library

Five tips to stop thinking and to start doing

Rob Coers
Internet trainer and consultant
The Netherlands
Worked in the (public) library sector
Working for the (public) library sector
www.robcoers.nl
Internet Librarian International 2007

What is this about?
Why social software in your library?
Commonly heard no’s and but’s
5 tips on how to address them

It doesn’t matter in what type of library you work
Public library
Academic library
School library
Corporate library
Special library (art, music, medical…)

It’s free
It’s easy
It’s practical
It’s about people
It’s about interaction!

Which software?
Weblogs

Which software?
Weblogs
RSS

Which software?
Weblogs
RSS
Photo sharing

Which software?
Weblogs
RSS
Photo sharing
Video sharing

Which software?
Weblogs
RSS
Photo sharing
Video sharing
Social bookmarking

Which software?
Weblogs
RSS
Photo sharing
Video sharing
Social bookmarking
Wikis

Which software?
Weblogs
RSS
Photo sharing
Video sharing
Social bookmarking
Wikis
Enriched library catalogs

Benefits of social software for you and your users
Vital, targeted information on their desktop (if they want*) as news happens Of course they want!
Saves time for your busy client / patron / user
Get in contact with people who share interests, both intern and extern
Supports learning and networking in any organization

Benefits of social software for you and your users
Get solutions, answers to your “problems” in a fast and innovative way
A great chance to get rid of the zero-mistake-culture in organizations : encourages people to speak out
Syndicate your content for promotion
Get in-the-picture in your community

"Skepticism has never founded empires, established principals, or changed the world's heart. The great doers in history have always been people of faith". Edwin Hubbell, American clergyman 1814-1880 "If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank”. Woody Allen

. . . And of all kind
Climate change
Medics
Computers
Web 1.0
Science
Instant messaging
Aromatherapy
iPods
Friday the 13th
UFO’s
Evolutional theory
Tagging
Web 2.0
Reincarnation
North Korea
Second Life
Loch Ness Monster
Web 8.0

Based on fear and ignorance Internet Librarian International 2007

Commonly heard no’s and but’s
“ but we don’t have the tech know how”
“ We don’t have the time to do it”
“ We don’t have the money to buy it”
“ Web 2.0 is a hype that will pass”
“ But our users are not 2.0-ish”
“ What if ‘they’ start to comment on us?”
“ What if they take control of things?”
“ I am afraid to expose myself”
“ It’s threatening our IT security!”

1. Training and teaching
Conduct short introductions for staff
23 Things (in English, Danish, German, Dutch, …)

2. Focus on the positive people
10 % trendsetters, early adaptors, leaders, US
70% followers, want to be guided and open to hear your story
20% oppose to everything what is new

2. Focus on the positive people Internet Librarian International 2007

3. Speak of ROP instead of ROI
You can’t easily translate success into money
Return On Investment
Investment = minimal
Result = maximal
Return On Participation : measure conversations with tools like Feedburner and Technorati

4. Make friends with IT
Often they don’t have a clue about social software
You don’t have to install software on the network
Social software is so easy to use

5. Just do it
Build prototypes and prove users the benefit of it*
It’s sometimes better to ask for forgiveness than for permission
Brian Matthews, 2007

What are YOUR tips?
Share them at the Library Success Wiki

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Five tips for implementing social software in your library

by Rob Coers on Oct 08, 2007

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Five tips for implementing social software in your library — Presentation Transcript