Download to read offline
Uploaded byGlen Farrelly
Social Georeferencing: A Model for Libraries
Social georeferencing allows users to collaboratively add geographic relevance to information by geotagging or plotting items on maps. The author discusses how libraries could leverage this by having the public help georeference objects in local history collections. Examples provided include the British Library crowdsourcing map georeferencing, OurOntario which digitized local collections with public contributions, and how Flickr and LibraryThing enable social georeferencing of photos and books. While quality control and maintaining engagement are challenges, incentives and promotion could encourage participation to make more of libraries' collections discoverable based on location.
Social Georeferencing: A Model for Libraries
- 1. Social Georeferencing A Modelfor Libraries By Glen Farrelly February 2014
- 2. About Me • Doctoralcandidate @ University of Toronto, Faculty of Information • 15+ years as digital media consultant and web producer • My dissertation examines how people’s use of locative media affects their spatial relationships • For further Glen info glenfarrelly.com
- 3. Presentation Overview 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Introduction Terminology Importance Social georeferencing Examples a.British Library b. OurOntario c. Flickr d. LibraryThing 6. Caveats 7. Recommendations Sample of a libraries local studies collection
- 4. Introduction • Location-based services(LBS) made geographically relevant info more accessible & desired • Current ways to georeference are insufficient • Online, crowdsourcing offers potential solution
- 5.
- 6.
- 7. Importance of Topic •People value geographically relevant information • Long history of media used to deliver geo. relevance • LBS have increased demand • Much info in libraries not sufficiently georeferenced
- 8. Use of Location-BasedServices 60 % of respondents 50 40 30 20 10 0 Find nearby Find nearby Find nearby businesses events sites View pictures or videos of location Read Read history Read local current info of location news of location Read reviews of nearby businesses In a survey I did, 86% of respondents reported using their device to access at least one place-related function in the past month. The results are dated now, so I expect these rates to be higher. At the high end, 84% reported finding proximal businesses or services, reading local news (74%), finding nearby sites (67%), and reading information about their location (66%).
- 9. Social Georeferencing • Userscreate information for georeferencing, via o geotagging o plotting on map • Helps with toponym problems • Collaborative and social • Scalable
- 10.
- 11. British Library • Askedpublic to georeference maps • Used online tool (below) developed by Klokan (klokantech.com/georeferencer) • In 7 weeks, 2700 maps completed • More details: www.bl.uk/maps
- 12. OurOntario • Collaborative projectwith libraries & museums across Ontario • Assisted in digitizing and online cataloguing of local history collections • Public contributed objects and comments on location & details of existing online items • More info: http://ourontario.ca/
- 13. Flickr Map • Easyto use and familiar online tool to georeference location of photos via plotting on map • Flickr also enables geotagging, i.e. folksonomy tags • Geotags may better capture place-name info seeking behaviour of people • Visit map: flickr.com/photos/glenfarrelly/map
- 14. LibraryThing • LibraryThing isexample of easy-to-use, social tool people use to describe, tag, and share info • Projects have successfully combined LibraryThing’s user-generated content with library catalogues • Model of way to combine social georeferencing with library catalogues • librarything.com
- 15. Caveats • Quality andaccuracy of public’s work • Malicious hijacking • Exploitation of free labour • Creating and managing an online, collaborative system is time-consuming • Maintaining public (and internal) interest in project
- 16. Encouraging Participation • Offerincentives and prizes • Reward “super users” • Give credit for contributions • Promote with social media • Engaging user experience (incl. gamification) Read: Holley, R. (2010). Crowdsourcing: How and why should libraries do it? D-Lib Magazine, 16(3/4).
- 17. More Information delicious.com/glenfarrelly/HHLIB glenfarrelly.blogspot.ca