Virtual Libraries as Virtual Learning Spaces: the experiences of the LASSIE project Dr Jane Secker Centre for Learning Technology, London School of Economics and Political Science Gwyneth Price The Newsam Library, Institute of Education

Project partners

Project aims To address concerns over lack of use of library resources by distance learners To explore how social software is affecting libraries and their services To consider whether these new technologies might enhance distance learners’ experience of libraries

To address concerns over lack of use of library resources by distance learners

To explore how social software is affecting libraries and their services

To consider whether these new technologies might enhance distance learners’ experience of libraries

Overview of paper Literature review Case studies Discussion

Literature review

Case studies

Discussion

The literature review process Non- traditional approaches to finding “literature” Team communication and collaboration

Non- traditional approaches to finding “literature”

Team communication and collaboration

The Literature review Definitions: What is social software? The concept of Library 2.0 To what extent and in what ways are libraries currently using social software? What are the current issues in supporting distance learners and how might social software help? Are libraries a social space and can virtual libraries replicate this? Available online from Project website

Definitions: What is social software? The concept of Library 2.0

To what extent and in what ways are libraries currently using social software?

What are the current issues in supporting distance learners and how might social software help?

Are libraries a social space and can virtual libraries replicate this?

Available online from Project website

Distance learners and libraries University of London External Programme traditionally provided little library support Access to library resources still varies depending on course A concern students don’t exploit resources available through the Online Library The literature review suggests information literacy programmes and access to electronic resources are services that could be enhanced through social software

University of London External Programme traditionally provided little library support

Access to library resources still varies depending on course

A concern students don’t exploit resources available through the Online Library

The literature review suggests information literacy programmes and access to electronic resources are services that could be enhanced through social software

Aren’t all libraries supporting distance learners? Even if no ‘real’ distance learners, e-learning and e-resources has meant many librarians support users remotely Students increasingly part-time, mature, not living on campus Students don’t visit the library as frequently Social software might offer solutions for all libraries LASSIE findings should be of wider relevance

Even if no ‘real’ distance learners, e-learning and e-resources has meant many librarians support users remotely

Students increasingly part-time, mature, not living on campus

Students don’t visit the library as frequently

Social software might offer solutions for all libraries

LASSIE findings should be of wider relevance

Libraries as a social space What sort of interactions take place here? Group working Resource sharing Networking with colleagues, classmates Using electronic resources Getting help / advice/ training from Library staff Library as ‘place’ and libraries as ‘third places’ Do students want librarians in social spaces?

What sort of interactions take place here?

Group working

Resource sharing

Networking with colleagues, classmates

Using electronic resources

Getting help / advice/ training from Library staff

Library as ‘place’ and libraries as ‘third places’

Do students want librarians in social spaces?

The case studies Explored five key areas: Presenting reading lists to students Resource sharing with students Podcasting for teaching information literacy skills Blogging and libraries Facebook and libraries Involved course leaders and students at LSE and IoE Aimed to offer best practice advice for other institutions

Explored five key areas:

Presenting reading lists to students

Resource sharing with students

Podcasting for teaching information literacy skills

Blogging and libraries

Facebook and libraries

Involved course leaders and students at LSE and IoE

Aimed to offer best practice advice for other institutions

Case Study 1: Reading lists and social software Used social software to present reading lists to students as an alternative to paper lists and commercial reading list systems A reading list for LSE external programme students was selected for inclusion Tested out CiteULike , H20 Playlists , Bibsonomy and LibraryThing Piloted with distance learners and feedback gathered Students liked online reading lists with book jackets!

Used social software to present reading lists to students as an alternative to paper lists and commercial reading list systems

A reading list for LSE external programme students was selected for inclusion

Tested out CiteULike , H20 Playlists , Bibsonomy and LibraryThing

Piloted with distance learners and feedback gathered

Students liked online reading lists with book jackets!

CiteULike

LibraryThing.com

Case study 2: Social bookmarking Exploring social bookmarking as a way of creating a subject guide of internet resources for students using del.icio.us Created a list of resources for distance learners on the TRIUM course at LSE Created a list for PGCE students at IoE which they could add resources to Del.icio.us very flexible and easy to use Could be problematic to add library resources to this type of list Highly valuable as a personal tool and easy to embed into other websites / services e.g. Facebook and Moodle

Exploring social bookmarking as a way of creating a subject guide of internet resources for students using del.icio.us

Created a list of resources for distance learners on the TRIUM course at LSE

Created a list for PGCE students at IoE which they could add resources to

Del.icio.us very flexible and easy to use

Could be problematic to add library resources to this type of list

Highly valuable as a personal tool and easy to embed into other websites / services e.g. Facebook and Moodle

Using del.icio.us

Case Study 3: Podcasting Literature review revealed information literacy is a key challenge for distance learning librarians. Podcasting offers a new way of developing training materials Created an online ‘ screencast ’ including powerpoint and audio on citing and referencing Feedback from students gathered through a survey Attracted considerable interest from other libraries

Literature review revealed information literacy is a key challenge for distance learning librarians.

Podcasting offers a new way of developing training materials

Created an online ‘ screencast ’ including powerpoint and audio on citing and referencing

Feedback from students gathered through a survey

Attracted considerable interest from other libraries

The screencast

Case Study 4: Blogging and libraries Maintained LASSIE Blog since March 2007 and now addicted to writing a blog! Highly valuable for publicity, documenting progress, reflecting and getting (some) feedback More readers than the departmental blog! Informal posts get more responses Still difficult to gauge who is reading it Features such as using RSS to push content onto a website most valuable Includes best practice for bloggers

Maintained LASSIE Blog since March 2007 and now addicted to writing a blog!

Highly valuable for publicity, documenting progress, reflecting and getting (some) feedback

More readers than the departmental blog!

Informal posts get more responses

Still difficult to gauge who is reading it

Features such as using RSS to push content onto a website most valuable

Includes best practice for bloggers

The LASSIE Blog

Case Study 5: Facebook and Libraries Based on experiences of the team using this social networking site for past 10 months Largely a social networking site, but difficult to predict how valuable it might become in the future Identified many library related groups and applications Looked at best practice for librarians using Facebook Certainly the communication tool of choice for the Google Generation

Based on experiences of the team using this social networking site for past 10 months

Largely a social networking site, but difficult to predict how valuable it might become in the future

Identified many library related groups and applications

Looked at best practice for librarians using Facebook

Certainly the communication tool of choice for the Google Generation

Library pages in Facebook

What is Library 2.0? From Michael Habib’s Flickr site (Licensed under Creative Commons): http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=222296001&size=o

What is Library 2.0? Library 2.0 is about user-centred change Library 2.0 reflects a process of change already well underway Library 2.0 is about people rather than technologies

Library 2.0 is about user-centred change

Library 2.0 reflects a process of change already well underway

Library 2.0 is about people rather than technologies

More questions than answers How can information literacy be embedded in the learning process? Is there a conflict between Librarian 2.0 and her traditional counterpart? Is the traditional library redundant?

How can information literacy be embedded in the learning process?

Is there a conflict between Librarian 2.0 and her traditional counterpart?

Is the traditional library redundant?

Thank you and any questions? LASSIE Blog: http:// elearning.lse.ac.uk/blogs/socialsoftware / LASSIE website: http:// clt.lse.ac.uk/Projects/LASSIE.php Resources for today’s talk: http://del.icio.us/LSE_LASSIE/NLC2008/ E-mail: [email_address] [email_address]

LASSIE Blog: http:// elearning.lse.ac.uk/blogs/socialsoftware /

LASSIE website: http:// clt.lse.ac.uk/Projects/LASSIE.php

Resources for today’s talk:

http://del.icio.us/LSE_LASSIE/NLC2008/

E-mail: [email_address]

[email_address]