Research on Web 2.0 in Public Libraries: the DCPL start page.

Giada Gelli, B.A, MLIS

http://www.netvibes.com/dublincitypubliclibraries#Home

DCPL Netvibes Page

Thesis Research

- What observable advantages of use of Web 2.0 in Public Libraries?

- Verifying literature claims on Web 2.0 benefits e.g. Casey/Savastinuk, Bradley, Stephens, Kroski...

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

“Liberate our services using the World Wide Web 2.0 and look towards Web 3.0 and 4.0.”

(IFLA 2009)

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

“We should not be reluctant to try out services and channels which we know are not absolutely perfect – this is now a world of perpetual prototypes.”

(CILIP, Draft Council Paper 2009)

Focus of research: DCPL start page on Netvibes

• Empirical research focused on specific instance

• Data collected through survey – limited population sample (60 patrons)

• Potential for survey re-run on a bigger scale

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

WHAT RESULTS?

Why Web 2.0?

User’s familiarity with Web 2.0 applications:

Wikis Videosharing websites Start pages (i.e. Netvibes, iGoogle,

Pageflakes..) Social Networking sites Blogs IM

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

“Which of these Web 2.0 applications are you familiar with?”

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Blogs

Inst

ant m

essa

ging

(IM

)

Photo

sha

ring s

ites

Podca

sts

RSS

Socia

l boo

kmar

king

site

s

Socia

l net

worki

ng s

ites

Start

Pages

Twitt

er

Video

sha

ring

Wik

is

Aw are of it and use it regularly Aw are of it and used it at least once Aw are of it, but never used it

Only heard of it Never heard of it

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

Use of DCPL Netvibes page applications

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

User services: the impact of Web 2.0 on library services.

• Targeted categorisation of resources

• Facilitating user’s Internet experience

• Increased visibility of library’s news and events

• Library as trusted information provider

• Foster self-managed life-long learning activities

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

User participation: exploiting Web 2.0 to gather feedback.

A more user-driven experience can only be initiated by the public library itself and it should have the aim of addressing and overcoming the traditional perception of power-imbalance between library users and library staff.

(Rutherford 2008)

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

Bringing the user closer to the library.

To what extent do you think Web 2.0 tools, e.g. blogs, Netvibes, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, are helping you get more involved in

your library?

29.3%

10.3%

24.1%

15.5%

20.7%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

To a greatextent

To someextent

To a littleextent

Not at all No opinion

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

Social inclusion and local community: what Web 2.0 can do for public

libraries.

To what extent do you think Web 2.0 tools, e.g. blogs, Netvibes, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, are helping you get more involved in

your local community?

29.8%

8.8%

21.1%

28.1%

12.3%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

To a greatextent

To someextent

To a littleextent

Not at all No opinion

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

Someone said:

“…the internet appears to create a new type of social capital linked to community involvement, and [...] it might support existing face-to-face relationships by acting as an additional communication device, therefore increasing stocks of social capital.”

(European Commission’s report, 2009)

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

CONCLUSIONS Areas of impact of Web 2.0 in public

libraries.

Web 2.0 Library

•User services

•User’s feedback

•User’s participation

•Information services

Social inclusion

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010

Thank you!

References

• CILIP (2009), Draft Council Paper on CILIP and the use of Web 2.0, http://communities.cilip.org.uk/blogs/council/archive/2009/07/14/draft-council-paper-on-the-cilip-and-use-of-web-2-0-comments-suggestions-welcome.aspx

• IFLA Public Libraries Section (2009), ‘10 ways to make a public library work. Update your libraries’, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, The Hague. http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/49

• Rutherford, L. L. (2008), ‘Building participative library services: the impact of social software use in public libraries’, Library Hi Tech 26(3): 411-423.

• European Commission (2009), ‘Europe's digital Competitiveness report: main achievements of the i2010 strategy, 2005-2009’, European Commission, Brussels. [http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/docs/annual_report/2009/sec_2009_1060_vol_1.pdf

Giada Gelli, LAI/CILIP Conference April 2010