Reasons why libraries should be on social media (OLJ Activity Module 4)

Comparable Table

Library	Blog	Facebook	Twitter	Tagging	Flickr	RSS Feed	Wiki	Podcast	YouTube	Virtual World
National Library of Australia (NLA)	X	X	X			X		X	X
The Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library (BAFL)		X
State Library of Victoria (SLV)	X	X	X		X	X			X

The table illustrates big libraries are embracing social media and networking sites than the small non-profit organization of BAFL. There are many reasons for this:

• The big libraries are well funded and have resources to carry out such social networking initiatives

• To connect and reach the large amount of the libraries’ users

• To promote library activities to users

• Brand management

• User research/Environmental Scan to fit the right tools with the right type of library users

• Opportunity to re-engage with library users

• Draw library users into the library services

• Collaboration/partnership with other libraries

• Giving users some ownership to their own online content

• To give a ‘human’ face to the library

This is not to say that the BAFL is not doing all of the above because they are only using one social networking technology. As Meredith Farkas mentioned in the Library Gang 2.0 Podcast, social networking software is not a magic wand that will transform libraries to great collaborators or user connectors. Social networking tools are only effective if they are meeting the needs of the library’s user population.

Planning and assessment are needed for libraries to determine whether the tools they have implemented are effective and successful. The NLA’s Blog, Twitter and Facebook presence seem to be a hit with its users because of their currency of content and enthusiastic user participation. Similarly with the SLV’s and BAFL’s Facebook presence are also popular with their users. Perhaps this is due to effective planning and thorough evaluation of the social networking tools. So in order for libraries to effectively connect to their users, they must first find out the types of technology their users are confident in before implementing them.

Twitter Session 21 December 2010

I enjoyed the Twitter session that my CSU lecturer Lyn organised for the 21^st December 2010. I particularly like the fact that we set aside time for learning a particular topic and/or technology. I tend to study haphazardly – I look at Facebook then get bored so I look at Twitter then on to Second Life and so on. I must concentrate on one and focus on just that. I’m getting the hang of Twitter. The only way to learn is to actually immerse myself into it, make mistakes and learn from it.

Website Design (OLJ Activity Module 3)

I love great design especially the ones that communicate sophistication, elegance, and forward-thinking with “I know what I’m talking about and no-one else knows about it” attitude. Take for example this before and after look of a website for a stone product company called Luck Stone. What an amazing transformation! (By the way, I pinched these links from Chuck Green’s PagePlane Blog – Thanks Chuck!).

For this OLJ activity, I’ve chosen the University of Tasmania Library website to evaluate against my own set of criteria for an effective library website design: In terms of Web 2.0 technologies, the library offers RSS feeds and a Library News Blog.

1. Objective

The UTAS Library aims to enhance the teaching, learning and research of its library users. One way to meet the needs of researchers is to use wiki as a research guide (Courtney, 2007, p. 28) where librarians can create dynamic content when needed, thus creating new and updated information consistently.

2. Target Audience

The library needs to understand its target audience and changing user population (George, 2008, p. 7). For example, using Facebook to create a discussion platform where users (young and techno-savvy) to discuss issues relating to academic resources or information seeking.

3. Feedback

All stakeholders (librarians, web developers, representative users) must have a voice on the design or re-design of the website in order for it to be usable.

4. A Marketing Tool

The library’s website could be used to promote new resources, services and social networking platforms that the library offers. A news blog is provided but this could be utilised so that users also have an input in what goes on at the library.

5. User-centred

KISS. Library users want to search for information in the most easiest and simplest way (look at the Google search box).

6. Usability Testing

One way for the library to gain information about how their users interact with the website is to simply ask. SurveyMonkey could be used to find out problems and opportunities that are obvious to the user but not to the web master.

7. Differentiate

Libraries must differentiate itself from its competitors. This can be done by building a unique online identity using social networking tools (McBurnie 2007).

8. Image

The library’s website is the library’s shopfront to the world, therefore it must convey a successful, progressive and credible organization in order for it to attract potential users as well as adequate resources from funding bodies.

9. Creativity

Think outside the mortar and bricks; why not build a library presence in virtual world such as Second Life.

10. Progressive Content

Content is king. Visitors of the website want to see new and updated information so it’s important that the website gets pumped up with lots and lots of content on a regular basis.

References

Courtney, N. (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow’s user. Westport, conn.: Libraries Unlimited.

George, C.A. (2008). User-centered library websites: Usability evaluation methods. Oxford: Chandos.

McBurnie, J. (2007). Your online identity: Key to marketing and being found. FUMSI, (October). Retrieved from http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/share/2510