I was very impressed with some of the examples we were given this week. Some libraries have used RSS in very creative ways that I had never thought of! Allowing patrons to subscribe to updates on their favorite book genres is genius. If a patron wants to know when the next mystery will arrive and what it will be, they can just subscribe to the RSS feed. UCLA's Custom Feed Wizard was interesting as well, though a little complicated. It is also great that some libraries will allow a user to customize a homepage using RSS. Very cool.
One thing I would worry about when using RSS for a library (or any) website is letting patrons know about it. If they don't already use RSS, they may not know what that little orange button means. A couple of the sites had handy "what's this?" links to explain things, which would probably answer in many cases. But others had nothing, assuming that users would already know how to subscribe. Another problem I encountered was actually finding the icon on some sites. A tiny orange button at the bottom of the page is easily overlooked, unless you're specifically looking for it. I'm not saying that the RSS link be a giant orange blight on the page, but some thought about placement may be in order. There was also some ambiguity concerning what I was actually subscribing to. Many of the sites had specifically labeled RSS feed buttons, but some did not. On the sites without labels, a subscriber wouldn't know what information was being updated until it showed up in his or her reader.
Overall, I was surprised with the number of uses for RSS libraries have come up with. But when RSS is used, the button should be findable and specifically labeled, and guidance should be available for the uninitiated.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Week 3: Blogging
After reading the texts and blogs assigned this week, I have the impression that many libraries--public, academic, school, and others--have been experimenting with and using blogs as tools for communication with both patrons and staff. In some libraries, this seems to work out great. However, I can see some situations in which a blog would not be the best solution. So, in my (admittedly limited) experience, these are some of the things libraries should think about before establishing a blog:
- The patrons' ability and interest. Who would you be blogging for? Is your patron base tech-savvy? Do they use the library's website regularly? If a library's patrons would not use a blog, then it may not be the best choice.
- Availability of time and staff. In order to be successful (as evidenced by our successful blogs list), a blog must be constantly updated. A blog wouldn't be a good option if the library doesn't have the available staff or time to maintain the blog and respond to comments.
- Knowledge/Training of staff. The current knowledge and training of staff should also be considered. When starting a new program, training will always be needed. The amount of time and energy (and cost) needed for training is one more factor to think about.
- Blogging policies. Before starting a blog, a library must also form some sort of guidelines for its bloggers and any patrons who use the service. Will comments be allowed? What sort of content will be permitted? What sort of tone does the library want to set? What will be done when someone breaks the rules?
- Something to blog about. In addition to tech-savvy patrons, knowledgeable and available staff, and funds for any extra payroll involved, the library must have a topic in mind to blog about. Whether the topic be current events, reading advisory, or additions to the collection (or all of the above), the library should have something in mind for their blog.
Exercise 2: Library Blogs
After exploring the blogs provided for us this week, I was amazed. I had no idea there were so many people out there writing blogs for others in our field! I definitely have a better understanding of how blogging communities come into existence, now that I've been exposed to one that piques my interest. :) So many interesting tips and tidbits...and so many different personalities!
Even among the five blogs assigned to us, there was a lot of diversity in content and form. The first, In the Library with the Lead Pipe by Emily Ford, deals with various issues in the library workplace, focusing mainly on personal well-being. Posts are in an essay-like format, with structured discussion based on evidence and references. The author maintains an enjoyable light-reading quality by inserting personal anecdotes and reflections, and the posts remain entertaining despite their length.
Olivia Nellums, the author of The Librarian's Commute, is a community college librarian. Her posts tend to relate her personal experiences in the workplace. She then uses these experiences to reflect on larger issues in the LIS field. The posts are a bit more personal than in Ford's blog, and quite a bit shorter. They are also very readable, and their brief nature makes them a quick and enjoyable read.
The Distant Librarian consists mostly of short blurbs discussing interesting books, articles, current events, etc.-- often technology related--that may be of interest to libraries or librarians. Links are provided to whatever is referenced, so the reader can go to the site and check out the buzz for themselves. Posts are usually one to a few paragraphs long, and provide (sometimes amusing) commentary and useful information.
In Librarian by Day, Bobbi L. Newman provides links of interest for libraries and librarians. Posts describe and give context for the links, and run from one paragraph to several. Some posts contain one link, some contain quite a few. Newman explains each link and points out its usefulness to libraries. The posts are short enough to read through fairly quickly.
David Lee King's self-named blog is sort of a mix of several of the above. Some of his posts are short discussions about and links to interesting articles or videos. Some are reviews and insights about new technologies, and some are instructional, like his series 10 Tips to Do Presentations Like Me. This blog doesn't really have personal anecdotes like most of the others, but it is still written in an easy-going, personable voice that is quick to read and engaging.
Of these five, the ones I find most appealing to read are those that have a personal touch. I enjoy the descriptions of others' experiences in their work. I also enjoy the shorter posts that point me to longer articles/websites. I can choose to either read the author's short interpretation and discussion of the article, or I can look at it for myself.
The three blogs I decided to subscribe to were librarian.net by Jessamyn West, Librarian in Black by Sarah Houghtan-Jan, and Tame the Web by Michael Stephens
Librarian.net gives short blurbs with links. The links connect the reader to a wide variety of library-related fare, from current issues to interesting stories and helpful information.
Librarian in Black is similar in structure to librarian.net, with blurbs and links, but with a definite focus on technology. Mixed in are personal notes, embedded videos, and some information of general interest (not necessarily having to do with technology).
The posts in Tame the Web vary quite a bit in format. Sometimes they are excerpts from articles, sometimes they are just an embedded video. They deal with all sorts of library issues, with a focus on links and resources available on the web.
After reading all of these blogs, I believe that successful blogs share at least these featrues:
Even among the five blogs assigned to us, there was a lot of diversity in content and form. The first, In the Library with the Lead Pipe by Emily Ford, deals with various issues in the library workplace, focusing mainly on personal well-being. Posts are in an essay-like format, with structured discussion based on evidence and references. The author maintains an enjoyable light-reading quality by inserting personal anecdotes and reflections, and the posts remain entertaining despite their length.
Olivia Nellums, the author of The Librarian's Commute, is a community college librarian. Her posts tend to relate her personal experiences in the workplace. She then uses these experiences to reflect on larger issues in the LIS field. The posts are a bit more personal than in Ford's blog, and quite a bit shorter. They are also very readable, and their brief nature makes them a quick and enjoyable read.
The Distant Librarian consists mostly of short blurbs discussing interesting books, articles, current events, etc.-- often technology related--that may be of interest to libraries or librarians. Links are provided to whatever is referenced, so the reader can go to the site and check out the buzz for themselves. Posts are usually one to a few paragraphs long, and provide (sometimes amusing) commentary and useful information.
In Librarian by Day, Bobbi L. Newman provides links of interest for libraries and librarians. Posts describe and give context for the links, and run from one paragraph to several. Some posts contain one link, some contain quite a few. Newman explains each link and points out its usefulness to libraries. The posts are short enough to read through fairly quickly.
David Lee King's self-named blog is sort of a mix of several of the above. Some of his posts are short discussions about and links to interesting articles or videos. Some are reviews and insights about new technologies, and some are instructional, like his series 10 Tips to Do Presentations Like Me. This blog doesn't really have personal anecdotes like most of the others, but it is still written in an easy-going, personable voice that is quick to read and engaging.
Of these five, the ones I find most appealing to read are those that have a personal touch. I enjoy the descriptions of others' experiences in their work. I also enjoy the shorter posts that point me to longer articles/websites. I can choose to either read the author's short interpretation and discussion of the article, or I can look at it for myself.
The three blogs I decided to subscribe to were librarian.net by Jessamyn West, Librarian in Black by Sarah Houghtan-Jan, and Tame the Web by Michael Stephens
Librarian.net gives short blurbs with links. The links connect the reader to a wide variety of library-related fare, from current issues to interesting stories and helpful information.
Librarian in Black is similar in structure to librarian.net, with blurbs and links, but with a definite focus on technology. Mixed in are personal notes, embedded videos, and some information of general interest (not necessarily having to do with technology).
The posts in Tame the Web vary quite a bit in format. Sometimes they are excerpts from articles, sometimes they are just an embedded video. They deal with all sorts of library issues, with a focus on links and resources available on the web.
After reading all of these blogs, I believe that successful blogs share at least these featrues:
- Personality. All of the blogs have a personal voice, whether or not the content relates to the authors' personal life or not. Even though some of the blogs were fairly formal in structure, their "voices" were still personable and engaging.
- Up-to-date information and constant posting.
- Timeliness--information that is relevant and currently of interest to librarians.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Week 2: Branding and Online Reputation Monitoring
After doing the readings for this week, especially How to Protect Your Online Reputation by Amanda Berlin, the first thing I did was Google myself in a mild panic. In most cases, this probably wouldn't have brought up too much about me specifically. Unfortunately, my name is pretty rare, so most of the first hits on Google were of me.
The good news is, the first hits were my LinkedIn profile. Not a very developed profile at the moment, but I was nonetheless encouraged that it came up first. Next came my Facebook and MySpace pages. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since I haven't used my MySpace in years and I tend to keep my Facebook pretty mild (my uncles, aunts, parents, and grandparents all have profiles too). The bad news is, a rather embarrassing YouTube video came up as well--the only video of me that exists on the web. Nothing too devastating...but not something I'd like prospective employers to see.
If future employers really do web searches on candidates for a position (and according to Berlin's article, they often do), I think I have a bit of image-polishing to do. Any librarian positions I might someday apply for may involve a web search as well as a background check. As a (hopeful) future librarian, I think a periodic checking of my online reputation might be in order.
The good news is, the first hits were my LinkedIn profile. Not a very developed profile at the moment, but I was nonetheless encouraged that it came up first. Next came my Facebook and MySpace pages. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since I haven't used my MySpace in years and I tend to keep my Facebook pretty mild (my uncles, aunts, parents, and grandparents all have profiles too). The bad news is, a rather embarrassing YouTube video came up as well--the only video of me that exists on the web. Nothing too devastating...but not something I'd like prospective employers to see.
If future employers really do web searches on candidates for a position (and according to Berlin's article, they often do), I think I have a bit of image-polishing to do. Any librarian positions I might someday apply for may involve a web search as well as a background check. As a (hopeful) future librarian, I think a periodic checking of my online reputation might be in order.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Exercise 1: Red Lion Hotels and Web 2.0
For Exercise 1, I decided to investigate Red Lion Hotels' use of social networking technologies. I worked for this company for a time, and I know that they were beginning to encourage more customer feedback through the use of online surveys during my time there. I also know that the company was having some other issues, and I was curious to see whether or not they had addressed these issues publicly, and whether they had continued their attempt to be more customer-friendly.
The first and most helpful technology I used was Social Mention. There were many websites that mentioned the company, though not as many as there could have been. They seemed to be mostly content created by the company itself, or by business directories and the like. Red Lion Hotels updates Twitter and YouTube, but the posts seem to be aimed at employees for the most part, rather than at customers.
However, there was some user-generated content to see. Most interesting was a former guest who had photo documented a sub-standard room at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v459/jimmybobob79/Red%20Lion%20Hotel%20at%20the%20Park/. There were also reviews on Yelp!, Trip Adviser, and other hotel and business review sites.
As far as I can tell, Red Lion Hotels has not attempted to respond to any of these user-generated complaints or compliments. The company's Twitter account contains internal chatter, with a few promotional tweets thrown in. It's Facebook page is practically nonexistent. That is, it has a page, but the only information it contains is the Wikipedia description entry. There are no posts, no discussions, and no apparent communication through that venue.
In my opinion, this company has not done particularly well in communicating with its customers. A Google search does come up with mostly Red Lion promotional websites, but there is no apparent interaction with customers through these sites either. If they want to improve their communication with customers, they should continue what they started with the surveys by gathering feedback through their social networking sites.
The first and most helpful technology I used was Social Mention. There were many websites that mentioned the company, though not as many as there could have been. They seemed to be mostly content created by the company itself, or by business directories and the like. Red Lion Hotels updates Twitter and YouTube, but the posts seem to be aimed at employees for the most part, rather than at customers.
However, there was some user-generated content to see. Most interesting was a former guest who had photo documented a sub-standard room at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v459/jimmybobob79/Red%20Lion%20Hotel%20at%20the%20Park/. There were also reviews on Yelp!, Trip Adviser, and other hotel and business review sites.
As far as I can tell, Red Lion Hotels has not attempted to respond to any of these user-generated complaints or compliments. The company's Twitter account contains internal chatter, with a few promotional tweets thrown in. It's Facebook page is practically nonexistent. That is, it has a page, but the only information it contains is the Wikipedia description entry. There are no posts, no discussions, and no apparent communication through that venue.
In my opinion, this company has not done particularly well in communicating with its customers. A Google search does come up with mostly Red Lion promotional websites, but there is no apparent interaction with customers through these sites either. If they want to improve their communication with customers, they should continue what they started with the surveys by gathering feedback through their social networking sites.
Week 1: Library 2.0
To me, Library 2.0 means that a library has an interactive, online presence in which its users can participate. More specifically, I tend to associate Library 2.0 with the library community's ability to create content and feedback in the library's online world.
I think this concept has a lot of potential for any type of library. Because libraries are essentially service-oriented, it seems only natural that they should take up a technology that can connect them more closely to their patrons. Library 2.0 technologies can provide ways to interact with members of the community who may not otherwise be participants. It can give the library valuable feedback on its programs, collections, and services. It can make the library more aware of its patrons wants and needs. And it can be a powerful, low-cost marketing tool--always a plus for our generally under-funded institutions.
Successful libraries are aware and responsive to the needs of their communities. In order to stay relevant, they must remain aware and responsive. When used competently, Library 2.0 technologies can create a constant, up-to-date dialog between organization and community, keeping the library informed so it can give users what they need. A responsive, relevant library is more likely to be widely used, well-thought-of, and better funded. :)
I think this concept has a lot of potential for any type of library. Because libraries are essentially service-oriented, it seems only natural that they should take up a technology that can connect them more closely to their patrons. Library 2.0 technologies can provide ways to interact with members of the community who may not otherwise be participants. It can give the library valuable feedback on its programs, collections, and services. It can make the library more aware of its patrons wants and needs. And it can be a powerful, low-cost marketing tool--always a plus for our generally under-funded institutions.
Successful libraries are aware and responsive to the needs of their communities. In order to stay relevant, they must remain aware and responsive. When used competently, Library 2.0 technologies can create a constant, up-to-date dialog between organization and community, keeping the library informed so it can give users what they need. A responsive, relevant library is more likely to be widely used, well-thought-of, and better funded. :)
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