Dublin City Public Libraries has embraced Web 2.0 tools to engage virtual communities and users wherever they are active online. They maintain presences on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Delicious to promote events, share photos and resources. Their use of social media has expanded access to collections, events and services, with the One City, One Book blog receiving over 7,000 views and photos on Flickr viewed 75,000 times in 2008. The library's Netvibes portal aggregates content from their online sites to provide a single access point for users.

1. Dublin City Public Libraries 2.0

2. Acknowledgments Based on information published in Dublin City Public Libraries Annual Report on Web Activities (2008) supplied by Eddie Byrne (Senior Librarian) Web Services, Dublin City Public Libraries

3. From a strategic perspective we have embraced Web 2 as both a multi-purpose business tool and a new library virtual space. We are expanding into new options as they present themselves, our objective being to be visible and active wherever virtual communities of interest are meeting Margaret Hayes, Deputy City Librarian

4. It’s all about… Being where the users are Encouraging user participation with services Engaging with a range of Web 2.0 tools and platforms

5. One City, One Book A blog with information on events and an online exhibition. One City, One Book is also on Facebook and Twitter 7,000+ page views (2008) One City blog

6. Websmart An online training resource, using Wordpress, for library staff and trainers, giving access to learning resources.

7. Children’s Book Festival Blog A dedicated blog, with information about festival events and allowing children to engage with authors online 1600 page views (2008) Festival blog 2009

8. Delicious The Library’s delicious account has over 770 bookmarks (Jan2010) providing access to library resources Library bookmarks

9. Flickr In 2008 photos from Library collections and of library events were viewed 75,000 times. Photos were extesivelyused on the library’s other social media sites. Library Photostream

10. RSS feeds Library feeds Library staff and users can get updates on Library bookmarks via Bloglines

11. Community Walks Branch Library information Postcard walk Using Google maps in conjunction with photos

12. Twitter Twitter is used for public announcements, news, service updates and to promote library events and services 335 followers (2010) http://twitter.com/dubcilib

13. Facebook Facebook provides access to services and collections and is used to promote events and link with libraryusers 531 fans (2010) Wall page

14. Wikipedia Wikipedia provides background information about the authority and directs traffic to other sites 2071 page views (2008) Wkipedia entry

15. Netvibes Netvibes is an online portal providing a single point of access to all the online sites used. Content is pulled in via RSS from the delicious page. It acts as a showcase for the library. Netvibes Start page

16. Podcasts Podcasts create an audio archive of library events and allow people to share events they may have missed. Podcasts

17. Web 2 also provided us with a dynamic, flexible, timely, channel of communication in parallel with other more traditional channels which we use… Within Dublin City Council, the library service has been to the fore in advocating and demonstrating the potential benefits of Web 2 engagement . Margaret Hayes, Deputy City Librarian