Web 2.0 Trends & the Academic Library: Implications for Public Services

Presented by Amber Burtisat Wright State University March 4, 2008

What is Web 2.0?

Concept describing user’s experience of the Web as a platform

Characterized by: open communication and collaboration the decentralization of authority content sharing

EXAMPLES

RSS Feeds Wikis Blogs Podcasting Photosharing Social Networking Social Bookmarking

Web 2.0 & Academic Library Public Services

Promotion

Collaboration

Communication

Instruction

PROMOTION

Outreach

Marketing

Branding

Public Relations

COLLABORATION

Information Literacy Courses

Research Guides

Integrated Course Management Systems

Technology Labs

COMMUNICATION

Library News

Library Events

Campus programming

Internal communication

INSTRUCTION

Tutorials

Medical Education

Bibliographic Instruction

Library Tours

The Future of Web 2.0

Forecasted to continue to grow in popularity

College age students will continue to be among the most regular users

It’s not just a fad…it’s a shift in the way we use the Web

The Future of Web 2.0

The Web 2.0 technologies that flourish:

Will be useful to users’ day-to-day lives

Will work together well

Essential Technologies

Podcasting

Social Networking

RSS

Essential Technologies

Both iPod and social networking sites are part of many students’ daily lives

RSS works with iPod and social networking sites

What is Podcasting?

An audio file that the user downloads and plays on a portable or desktop digital player

An audio file delivered to the user’s device using RSS and a feed reader

Uses for Podcasting

Bibliographic instruction sessions Tutorials Library tours and orientation Class lectures Increasing access Events

What is Social Networking?

Web-based sites which provide space for building social networks

MySpace, Facebook, Flickr

Uses for Social Networking

Marketing Provide catalog Portal into the library E-reference

What is RSS?

Really Simple Syndication

or Rich Site Summary

Subscribes users to updates from web-based sources

Uses for RSS

Search feeds New title feeds Journal feeds Library news feeds Blog and Wiki update feeds

Implementing Web 2.0 Technologies

To be successful a service must meet your users’ needs

The real challenge is marketing the service

Marketing Web 2.0 Services

Marketing should focus on how the service will improve the users’ experience

Help them succeed Fit into their current technology use

Should not focus solely on the technology

Marketing Web 2.0 Services

Must be constantly thinking about how to engage your user on their terms

Must be in touch with your users’ needs and the issues currently affecting them

Must pay attention to current and emerging trends in Web 2.0 technology

LIS Wikiliswiki.org/wiki/Main_Page

The Krafty Librarianwww.kraftylibrarian.com

David Rothman.netdavidrothman.net

ALA TechSourcewww.techsource.ala.org

Information Wants to Be Free meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress

Questions?

Time for Questions and Answers