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

Five tips for implementing social software in your library

1 comments

Notes on slide 1

8 Favorites & 2 Groups