Libraries Building Community and Library 2.0

Michelle McLeanInformation Librarian

A Land Down Under

• Size = 95% of USA mainland

• Population = 7% of USA

• US - 1 librarian per 1886 people (2004 US Dept of Labour)

• OZ - 1 librarian per 1939 people (2001 Census)

Australian Initiatives

Libraries Building Community

• Libraries Building Community Reports

• Text appeal• Inside a dog

Web 2.0• Picture

Australia/Flickr• Libraries Interact• Second Life and

Virtual Libraries Interact

Libraries Building Community

• Study of public libraries by State Library Victoria

• Initial study 2005, update due April 2007

• Reports: Setting the scene, logging the benefits, bridging the gaps, showcasing the best

• Library census 2006• http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/information/

publications/

Showcasing the best 2005

• Developing social capital

• Building individual skills

• Reaching out to communities

• Providing a gateway to information

Library Census 2006

• Cover all 45 public library services

• 33,000 people surveyed

• Representative of all age groups, cultural groups, family backgrounds and geography

• Mainly borrowing books, activities

• High satisfaction with library services

Showcasing the best 2007

• Retains same format as 2005

• New in-depth case studies

• Snapshots of other projects

• Revisit some projects from 2005

Text Appeal - Literary Dating• Hosted by the State

Library of Victoria• Based on Belgium’s

“lib-dating” program• Run over 4 nights in

Dec 06, Jan - Feb 07• $20 per person, wine

& light refreshments• All booked out!

Text Appeal - Literary Dating

• 320 attended• 200 on waiting list• Media coverage• International interest• Cost recovery• Future?

Inside a dog

• Book reviews• Author-in-residence• Previews• Author interviews• Book news• Find good reads• Forums• Competitions

Since January 2006• Over 200,000 visits• 1500 book reviews• 800 forum posts• 4000 competition

entries• Positive feedback

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to

read.” Groucho Marx

www.insideadog.com.au

Picture Australia & Flickr

• Partnership between National Library & Yahoo

• Aim to “enrich the heritage collections available through Picture Australia…..”

• Began January 2006

Picture Australia & Flickr

• People, places and events

• Over 600 members• Over 17,000 images• Current and historical

content• Ourtown - March 07

Picture Australia & Flickr

• Copyright ownership• Creative Commons

licences• Metadata• Picture Australia visits

Picture Australia and Flickr• Easy to administer• Issues with tagging• Increase in use of Picture

Australia• NLA has acquired

selected images • http://

www.pictureaustralia.org/Flickr.html

Libraries Interact

• Nicknamed LINT• “Blog central for

Australian libraries”• Across sectors/states• Independent & IT

focussed• Team of regulars• Guest contributions

Libraries Interact

• Since September ‘06• Posts• Comments• Topics• Archived by NLA• librariesinteract.info

Second Life and VLINT

• Corporate presences• Library related

presences• Australian Libraries

Building• Aims

Second Life and VLINT

• Virtual Libraries Interact

• Spin-off from Libraries Interact

• “Blog central for Australian Libraries in Other Worlds”

• virtualibrariesinteract. info

Other Projects

Reading Victoria• Summer reading

program • Nov 06- Feb 07• 20 books• Author events, blog

and website• SMS votes

Reading Victoria - results

Learning 2.0

• Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries

• Using PLCMC’s Learning 2.0

• 80 staff and 5 non YPRL participants

• Local expertise

L2 UnConference

• Held in Melbourne• Hosted by Yarra

Plenty Libraries• Thomastown Library• Promoted through

blog and email lists• Booked out quickly• 100 attended

L2 UnConference

Topics covered:• RFID• Web 2.0=Library 2.0?• Blogs and Wikis• Tagging & Social

Networking• Second Life• Virtual service

and more

Library Lovers Day

• Valentine’s Day • Activities at libraries to

coincide• Website• Sharing ideas• Sharing feedback• 2nd year• Sponsorship• librarylovers.org.au

Other initiatives

• Legal Information Access Centre (NSW)

• Drug Info @ Your Library (NSW)

• Health Information Service (NSW)

• Read around OZ (nationwide)

Michelle McLean

Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation

michelle.mclean@cclc.vic.gov.au