Library 2.0 Conclusions

So where do I stand in the Library 2.0 spectrum?
I think it's fairly obvious that I am a supporter of Library 2.0 technologies. There are so many ways the library could use them to interact with patrons and attract new patrons. We could notify patrons of new library events and services using RSS feeds. We could allow users to share their photos of the local area using Flickr. We could use tagging and tag clouds to allow users to explore a particular subject and find out the topics that library patrons are most interested in. We could create subject guides using Wikis. We could post audiovisual guides to the library on YouTube. We could also attract new library patrons and start up discussions about library services using social networking. If we really wanted to be adventurous, we could start up a second life book club. Then we wouldn't have to worry too much about places filling up.
The question is: How do we do this?
These technologies are only just starting to emerge and develop. The majority of people who use these technologies are aged between 15 and 35. As time goes on more and more people will start to use web 2.0 but for now we need to work with a small number of patrons. We could increase this number by encouraging use of new technology through slightly older technology: email. Email is used by a wider range of people and so could be a good jumping off point for marketing new online services. For example, we could send out monthly enewsletters to patrons notifying them of library events, services and any new technologies. In addition to Internet Training Courses, we could also conduct Web 2.0 courses so that Patrons that are unfamiliar with the technology have an opportunity to learn and ask questions about it. We could also provide RSS feeds. In order to attract new patrons, we could use MySpace or FaceBook. While this might only attract some younger people it is a good way to present our services online. I think by taking small steps, we can gradually make Web 2.0 technologies a permanent part of library services.

Podcasts/Vodcasts

I haven't actually used YouTube before and I found some very interesting videos on there. By interesting I mean when I looked up 'library' in the search box I came across some funny and rude videos as well as 'Mr Bean at the Library.' I'm going to Africa in November and was able to find videos of all the places I was going to, which were very helpful. I can also see the value in possibly signing up to YouTube and posting some of my travel videos online. The following is a video of the Chobe riverfront from YouTube.I looked up the National Library of Australia on You Tube using the search function and found that there are a lot of videos broadcasting and promoting events held at the library. This could be a useful tool for any public library. We could broadcast informative videos and videos of some events (with permission provided). Like Social Networking Applications YouTube allows a user to add friends, comment on videos for the library.

I then moved onto Podcasts. My first problem was listening to the podcast. It was extremely slow to load even on a good computer. I think they're a good idea if you've got time. I subscribed to a podcast called Question of the Day. The episode I watched asked people 'Who are you thankful for?' There are 58 episodes of this so far. The library could use podcasts to update members about library services and information. Podcasts might also be used to discuss new websites or books as well. I think that this is technology that may be used in the future . . . when loading times are quicker.

Social Networking

I have used social networking a lot in my personal life. I have accounts with Myspace and Facebook. I mainly use it to catch up with old school friends, some of whom I haven't seen in about six or seven years. I also use Facebook to view photos of different events. For example, my sister recently got married and a large proportion of the guests posted their photos of the wedding on Facebook. There is also the option of tagging and commenting on photos. I might also add that a certain photo of me in the 'Our Shire' magazine also appeared on Facebook, posted by a thoughtful friend. I found that when Social Networking, you can restrict who is able to view your page and your personal information.
I think social networking would be good for the library going into the future. As I read in the blogs many people are wary of using it because so much crude material can be posted but it is a good way to connect with young people and introduce them to library services. I noticed that a lot of libraries with social networking target teenagers in their content. However, people in their thirties are also common users of social networking and so the library can gradually expand its target audience. As mentioned in the blogs, social networking might also encourage some parents to get involved. The library could run training courses in this technology.

Wiki

When the term Wiki is used the first thing I think of is "Wikipedia: The Online Encyclopedia". I have used this site many times before to look up general information about topics. While information is constantly updated on this site there is no real guarantee of it's accuracy. For example, when a WWF wrestler died last year news of the death was posted on Wikipedia before the event actually occurred. Aside from the possibility that it was a psychic that posted it this is just one example of the flaw in a Wiki. That is why I would not use such technology for serious research.
However I am impressed with the way it is used in a library context. Rather than providing direct information about a topic, it provides information about library resources in relation to a topic. I would use this for serious research. I was particularly impressed with the setup of a Wiki by St Joseph County Public Library. It provides a list of subject guides. Each guide presents brief information about the topic as well as different library resources such as books and electronic documents and databases. It is a very readable and easy to access site. I believe that Wikis can be used in the public library system as a gateway to library resources and services.

Social Bookmarking and Tagging

The whole idea of social bookmarking had me confused at first. I'm aware of tagging because I've been tagged in various Facebook photos, however I was not familiar with del.icio.us and its capabilities. I tried to play the short video to learn more about it but the public PC's would not play sound and my home computer makes everyone sound like a chipmunk. So I visited the del.icio.us site and read up about social bookmarking. From my understanding it's a site where I can save some of my favourite websites in the one place. I see it as being similar to the 'favourites' icon on my desktop. The difference being that I can access del.icio.us from any computer rather than just my own pc.

I think this is really useful technology. There are sites I visit frequently and it would be good to keep the links to these sites in a place I can use from any computer. It is also extremely handy for research purposes. I am starting my masters course this year and del.icio.us would be a great place to store sites associated with my research so that I can go back and view them whenever and whereever I need to. I can also look at sites that others have tagged that may be relevant to my topic of study.

It is interesting to see how Ann Arbor District Library has used social bookmarking and tagging in their information service. They have tag clouds showing the most popular tags in their catalog. They list the top 10 tags and most recent tags. This is something that could be used in all library services. It would allow patrons to view items associated with a paticular tagged subject.It would also give an indication of community interests by looking at the popularity of the tags. However this would not give us a complete indication for any statistical purpose because not all library patrons will use the catalog or go online frequently. This is very likely to change in the future so social bookmarking and tagging would definately be a good option for the library and information service.

RSS Feeds

I've just been discovering RSS feeds using Google Reader. This technology is completely foreign to me and I think I will have to explore it further to fully understand it. Nevertheless I can see its value. It is a convenient way to view updates on favourite sites. Rather than go to each site individually I can check google reader first. I have subscribed to SSC news which enables me to view any new tips for Learning 2.0. Google Reader also gave me the option of 'Feed Bundles'. This allows me to subscribe to a whole lot of feeds under categories such as 'Top Stories', 'World News' and 'Sport'. I found that this was a good way to begin subscribing to feeds. I am currently subscribed to feeds for the Sydney Morning Herald, Fox Sports etc. Subscribing to a feed isn't as hard as I thought it would be. You just type or 'copy' and 'paste' a url into the 'Add Subscription' icon.



This technology could be used to notify library patrons of upcoming news and events within the library. It could also be used to share ideas and communicate with other libraries. There is an icon on Google Reader which allows users to share RSS feeds with friends. Even though I am yet to use this option it might be a good way to make the community aware of library activities.

Flickr

I like this photo for two reasons. Even though most photos are supposed to have an 'All sizes' button above them, every photo that appealed to me didn't. I was starting to get frustrated until I saw this one and so it is now my new favourite photo! The other reason is that it is a photo of an island in Fiji. I remember going there in 2005 and being so surprised at how white (and hot) the sand was and how clear the water was. It was great snorkelling and I took some fantastic underwater photos. If I get a Flickr account, I might just scan and upload them. I found this photo while browsing through my favourite holiday destinations in Flickr.

I wasn't sure how Flickr could be used in the library service until I had a look at other library projects. It can be used to share library news and events with members of the public - a bit like a marketing tool. It can also be used to share news and ideas with other library services. I'm also impressed with the National Library's Project Australia. It would be great to set up something like that on a local scale. For example, we could invite Patrons to contribute photos of Sutherland Shire. It would allow members to get more involved in the library and contribute to local history development.