Using Dynamic Pathfinders to Reach Your Target Audience Tamara Murray, Westerville Public Library Evan Struble, OHIONET slideshare.net/westervillelibrary delicious.com/westervillelibrary/DynamicPathfinders

Traditional Pathfinders Are Static

What happens when… A book is weeded? A website goes belly up? A domain name changes? One resource = two topics? New content is added? Patrons want to share?

A book is weeded?

A website goes belly up?

A domain name changes?

One resource = two topics?

New content is added?

Patrons want to share?

When we say dynamic pathfinder … We mean the organization of information by topic or subject in an interactive way. We serve as filters for our users. We sift through the TRASH to help them find the TREASURE.

We mean the organization of information by topic or subject in an interactive way.

Why Dynamic? Searchable! Prevents duplicating content. Provides multiple access points. Allows for interaction with patrons. Offers content in multiple formats. Becomes more visual. Keeps it current!

Searchable!

Prevents duplicating content.

Provides multiple access points.

Allows for interaction with patrons.

Offers content in multiple formats.

Becomes more visual.

Keeps it current!

Go Where the Users Are 35% of Adults have social networking profiles 65% of Teens have social networking profiles 19% of the population logged onto their social networking profile yesterday. 16% watched a video on a video-sharing site yesterday.

35% of Adults have social networking profiles

65% of Teens have social networking profiles

19% of the population logged onto their social networking profile yesterday.

16% watched a video on a video-sharing site yesterday.

Twitter: 140 Characters on the Go

Delicious: Lists of Links

YouTube: Tutorials & Personalization

SlideShare: PowerPoint Power

Squidoo: Website & Community

Ning: Website & Community

What about the books?

Local Subject Headings

Tagging in the Catalog

Want to put it all together? books websites presentations videos and tips

books

websites

presentations

videos

and tips

Blogs (WordPress, Blogger…)

MediaWiki (Open Source)

Library à La Carte (Open Source)

SubjectsPlus (Open Source)

LibData (Open Source)

ResearchGuide (Open Source)

MySQL & ASP.NET (Homegrown)

LibGuides (Subscription)