Review: 4

Using blogs and wikis to communicate with the library clients

Kate Watson and Chelsea Harper’s (2006) article “Using blogs and wikis to communicate with the library clients” (published in incite magazine, 2006) discusses how two Web 2.0’s social networking tools, blogs and wikis are used in libraries to communicate with clients, giving examples and links of libraries which use these technologies. However the main focus of the article is on how to develop a successful virtual communication tool, stressing the importance of communication and collaboration and providing tips.
Watson and Harper commence by differentiating blogs and wikis, stating that blogs and wikis have “ been the driving force behind emerging concepts such as Web 2.0 and Library 2.0”. A blog (short for weblog), is an online diary/journal that is displayed in reverse chronological order with usually only one editor, sometimes two. Readers can communicate with each other online through comments. Where wiki is rather different, it is a collaborative community website that anyone can contribute too, by creating, adding, editing or deleting the wiki content. The article touches briefly on the evaluation of the internet from a static place (Web 1.0) to its current collaborative place (Web 2.0) with users, and how the technologies of principles of Web 2.0 might affect libraries.
The main content of the article concentrates on key tips to use when planning for wikis and blogs within a library environment in order to make the implementation successful. The tips include a section called “Manage your communication tools” which discusses how introducing any new technology needs to fit in with the strategic mission and goals of the library. Clear guide lines, mission statements and strategic management plans need to be made publicly available, and staff need to be educated on all matters.
The tip on “Control technolust” suggests if blogs or wikis do not fit within the library’s goals and missions, the library should not implement them. The pair states that planning and testing internally is essential prior to the release to the library patrons.
Watson and Harpers third tip is to agree upon an “honest library voice” and to be honest and genuine. They then go onto to give an example of how a site was deceitful and needed to be quickly removed from publication due to heavy criticism.
“Updating often” is an essential tip to ensure that the library web presence is current, keeping its appeal fresh and inviting to users.
The next tip talks about how library staff need to respond to comments or to remove inappropriate content regularly in order to keep paths open and readers interested and collaborating with the library wiki or blog.
The final tip suggested the use of RSS feeds as a promotional tool and other online avenues of social networking such as Bebo, Facebook or My Space as a way of reaching potential users. Watson and Harper believe that the question in today’s society of advanced technology and social networking is to ask “how do we meet our patrons needs online, not if”.
This reviewer believes that Watson and Harper’s paper and collection of tips on how to communicate with library clients, via blogs and wikis should be an essential guide and read for all library staff involved in or on a committee which might be planning and creating blogs and wikis for the library environment.

References:
Casey M. and Stephens M., (2007), The Open Door Director, Library Journal 132, no. 12, 29, available at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6457240.html , accessed 1 August, 2008.

Wikipedia, viewed 15 August 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Review: 3

Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models

Mary Kajewski’s article “Emerging technologies change our service delivery models” 2006, explores free and inexpensive technologies that are readily available on the World Wide Web. This paper demonstrates positive examples of technology such as blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and aggiegets, podcast, vodcasts, web conferencing and instant messaging that can be incorporated into library services and programs along with examples of each. She concludes the article with a key to success: staff training. Kajewski points out that “with the rise of online resource and new technology, libraries interested in enhancing user service and providing unmediated, independent access to library services and collection have began to look at new ways of creating online communities” . Blogging is just one example of such an online community.


Burrows describes blogs (short for web log), as an online diary or journal, usually displayed in reverse chronological order. Blogs are web sites that contain brief entries where readers can leave comments. Kajewski explains that in a library environment, blogs can be used as an information service for clients, as a library service that lists new items added to the collection, as a feedback tool or for professional awareness to keep staff updated.



A wiki is a collaborative community web site where anyone can contribute. Kajewski describes wikis as a shared space for quick collaboration consisting of editing where users can create, add, edit or delete content within its pages. A wiki is software that uses simple markup language, with the software or wiki engine being freely available on the net, media wiki being the most common. Wikipedia, a collaborative encyclopaedia uses media wiki as its search engine. For examples of other wiki’s using media wiki (note they all have the same layout) see:
• Wiki how – a how to do it manual
• Wiki books – a library of educational textbooks
• Military history wiki – a military history of the past two centuries.



RSS (really simple syndication) is explained by Kajewski as a feed used to publish frequently updated digital content. RSS allows users to receive content from sources that frequently publish or update their digital content, by subscribing to podcasts, blogs, wikis or news feed or web pages of interest. Subscribers automatically receive updates through RSS feed without having to visit the website frequently or clogging up their emails.



The term podcast comes from the two words “iPod” and “broadcast”. A podcast is an audio program distributed over the internet to subscribed users. Kajewski mentions the advantages of podcasting; one advantage is that it can be downloaded or streamed at any time and listened to at the user’s convenience. Kajewski then goes on to discuss how a library can create a basic podcast, touching briefly on statistics of who has used podcasts, then she gives examples of how public libraries can incorporate podcasts into their programs giving examples of libraries who podcast. She then suggests ways Podcasts can be used as an educational tool - for example: for book reviews, presentations, lectures and tutorials or even in libraries or museums for tours. An example of library Podcasting in use today is the Ohio University Library which offers a podcasting service guiding patrons through its many departments.
Kajewski touches briefly on

• Vodcasts, on demand video clips that are available online to view or download at a time that is convenient.
• Web conferencing is used to conduct meetings or conferences (webinar) over the Internet. The last technology discussed was
  
• Instant Messaging, a real time, online text communication with one or more users. This is frequently used by teenagers of today; a common instant messenger is MSN (Microsoft Network).
  

This paper gives an excellent overview of new technologies available online and examples and links for libraries that have incorporated these technologies into their services and programs. The writer of this review believes that although the article is dated 2006, it is still relevant today with most links and examples still currently accessible at the time of writing this review.


References:

Kajewski, M. (2007). Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models. [Electronic Version]. The Electronic Library. 25 (4), 420-429. Retrieved July 17, 2008 from www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02640470710779835

Wikipedia, viewed 15 August 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Can you relate to this?

Do you teenage kids??? if you do I'm sure you will be able to relate to this video clip from You tube.

Review : 2

Library 2.0
Service for the next-generation library

Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk’s article ‘Library 2.0: service for the next-generation library’ 2006 is an interesting article on Library 2.0 with some very thought-provoking opinions on library 2.0 being both physical and technical. This is what differentiates it from Web 2.0 (Web 2.0 is online collaboration). Although the article (written in 2006) is old in internet time, the concepts of Web 2.0 are still current and in use today.
Casey and Savastinuk’s article focuses on models that can be or have been introduced as elements of Library 2.0, giving examples of libraries which have used different elements of Library 2.0 in their establishments. For example: Huntington Public Library have created a blog for book reviews, giving book lovers access to reviews on the latest books in the library collection.
This reviewer agrees with Casey and Savastinuk’s point that “libraries are in the habit of providing the same services and the same programs to the same groups”. Despite new technologies, many libraries often keep offering the same old services, year in, year out. In so doing, they are under-servicing a huge number of people who don't use the library or perhaps don’t know what libraries of today have to offer. This is where the technology of web 2.0 with its useful online tools, comes in. It encourages user collaboration in the form of feedback, user reviews, and user-crafted social net works such as blogs, wikis and flickr to mention a few.
“Long tail”, a term coined in 2004 by Chris Anderson from “Wired” is another consideration that Casey and Savastinuk look at in a library context. Mossman (2006) describes long tail in the library context, as a library being able to reach “through their own deep, historical collections and far-reaching services like interlibrary loan and email document delivery, libraries can offer their customers access to an extensive number and variety of materials”. While this means bringing forward inactive items within the collection, it does require a combination of physical and virtual services. This type of service model is being used by online businesses such as: fishpond.com , an online bookshop that encourages readers to purchase more with phrases such as “customers who purchased this product also purchased.....” , Fishpond.com also allows for customer feedback in the form book reviews.

Casey and Savastinuk then discuss how customers are the collaborators in Library 2.0, and how user participation can expand the value of a library. The article states that this is achieved by customers tailoring library services to their own needs and wants. Electronically, this can be achieved through personalization of library web pages, user comments or tags, ratings, and reviews on versatile OPAC (online public access catalogue) interface. Customer privacy is an important issue for libraries to consider in the physical and virtual world, in order to allow customers to remain anonymous. Physically this may be developed by staff feedback, surveying both current and potential customers or reviewing current services. However, they do go on to point out that soliciting regular customer feedback and evaluating and updating services is of paramount importance to both new and existing services.
This article is an excellent read on how web 2.0 technology can be incorporated into libraries, (commonly known by the buzz word “Library 2.0”), with suggestions of service models to be considered. It deserves to be read widely in the library sector, especially by those wishing to enhance their perspective of Library2.0 and implementing it into their library environment, thereby giving readers an understanding of the underlining concepts of user participation, collaborations and contribution of their knowledge and experiences to the library services and programs.


References:

Anderson, C. (2004). The Long Tail. Retrieved July 26, 2008,
from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/tail_pr.html

Casey, M., & Savastinuk, L. (2006, September 1). Library 2.0: service for the next-generation library. Retrieved July 14, 2008, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html?q=Library+2.0

Mossman, K. (2006). Serving the Niche: Viewing libraries through Chris Anderson’s “Long Tail” lens. Retrieved Aug 14, 2008 from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6349032.html

Wikipedia, viewed 15 August, http://en.wikipedia.org

Review: 1

User Collaboration in Websites

Judith Pearce presented a paper entitled “User Collaboration in websites” (Pearce, 2006) at the ARLIS/ANZ conference (“Framing the Future”), in September 2006. In this presentation Pearce examined Web 2.0 and how the National Library of Australia (NLA) is using Web 2.0 applications in two of its services offered online, Picture Australia and Australia Dancing. Her aim is to explore how user collaboration can help the NLA to remain relevant in this rapidly changing world of information technology. In doing so, Pearce first identifies websites that use the technology of Web 2.0, such as Blogger, Wikipedia, Google and Flickr, then goes on to describe how Flickr and Wikipedia work and how the NLA has adapted these Web 2.0 applications to its own purposes. The article reveals how the NLA has incorporated Web 2.0 in two projects, and examines their limitations and their outcomes.

In 2004 Tim O’Reilly made the term “Web 2.0” popular when he first used the term while at a conference brainstorming session (O’Reilly, 2004). Indeed, if one is not familiar with web 2.0 technology this article may be a hard to comprehend. A brief look at Wikipedia’s description of Web 2.0 and “The web is using us” on You Tube, will set give one a better understanding of Web 2.0. Pearce goes on to say that users participate by contributing data or through tagging, comments, ratings and reviews.

Pearce identifies websites that use the technology of Web 2.0, such as blogger, Wikipedia, Google and Flickr. Pearce describes how Flickr and Wikipedia work and how the NLA has used this web 2.0 applications in two of their services Picture Australia and Australia Dancing.

Picture Australia is a project which encourages user collaboration by allowing users to add textual information and photos to the collection is now looking to increase the number of its contemporary pictures through the Flickr project. According to Pearce, it is the historical content or “Killer Data” (Greener, 2005) that sets Picture Australia aside from Flickr and Google. Pearce goes on to explain how this project works and the outcome for the NLA, which is increasing their collection, in both volume and topics. For example users are adding interesting juxtapositions of old and new pictures with the same subject (Pearce, 2006), thus allowing Picture Australia to increase its coverage of topical issues and widen its audience. Images are tagged by users, creating a form of metadata. Pearce describes this form of tagging as a little problematic, but tells that the NLA is addressing this by monitoring the images and giving advice to users on tagging.

Pearce suggests that future improvements would in the direction of tagging, which in turn would make the images easier to find. The NLA is considering the benefits that a thesaurus would have on the tagging. The Powerhouse Museum and NLA are both experimenting with tagging, with the NLA having a working group to look at all annotation (tags, comments, notes, ratings and reviews) requirements of its own collection.

Turning now to Australia Dancing, which is a directory of resources both current and historical. “The directory service is supplemented by other pages enabling discovery, location and access to information about dance in Australia through links to other relevant site” (NLA http://www.australiadancing.org/about.html ) Australia Dancing uses the technology of a wiki to collaborate with its users. However users must be registered and abide by the rules before they can contribute to the wiki. While a wiki is suitable to generate a set of encyclopedic pages such as the pages of Australia Dancing, it may result in information that is incorrect from users, a common problem with wikis. Pearce claims that Australia Dance will need to embrace Web 2.0 technology to meet user’s needs.

This article is an excellent read on how Web 2.0 technology can be incorporated into libraries. (commonly known by the buzz word "Library 2.0) with suggestions of service models to be considered. It deserves to be read widely in the library sector, especially by those wishing to enhance their perspective of Library 2.0 and implementing it into their library environment, thereby giving readers an understanding of the underlining concepts of user participation, collaborations and contribution of their knowledge and experiences tot he library service and programs.

References:

ANderson, C. (2004), The Long Tail, Retrieved July 26, 2008. from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/tail_pr.html

Casey, M. & Savastinuk,L. )2006, September 1). Library 2.0; service for ther next-genertation library. Retrieved 14 july 2008, from, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html?q=Library+2.0

Mossman,K. (2006). Serving the Niche: Viewing libraries through Chris ANderson's "Long Tail" lens. Retrieved Aug 14 2008 from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6349032.html

Wikipedia, viewed 15 Aug 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/main_page