Reaching Out to Library Users in the Facebook Era

How Facebook (FB) is used	Seattle Public Library	Toronto Public Library	Novi Public Library
Marketing library services	Hold requests through links posted in FB; launching of new services and photos of newly renovated areas; cover page and/or list of featured books	Launching of new services; workshops/trainings about new library equipment or services; cover page and/or list of featured books	Launching of new services; cover page and/or list of featured books; featured library staff and their primary roles
Promotion of library events	Upcoming events, even of other public libraries; online competitions; announcement of workshops/trainings	Events participated by or organized by the library; University of Toronto Library events; online competitions; announcement of workshops/trainings; featured or invited authors	Events participated by or organized by the library; online competitions; announcement of workshops/trainings;
Engaging with the community	Historical images, trivial information and news about or related to Seattle; shows support to community activities such as sports; surveys; questions about the library or community; photos of users participating in library events; photos of library staff participating in community activities	Historical images and news about or related to Toronto; shows support to national programs such as Canada Reads and No Smoking Week	Shows support to community activities such as sports; surveys; photos of users participating in library events; photos of library staff participating in community activities
User participation	High participation of users by posting comments and liking posts; users share photos; users answer surveys; users participate on online competitions	Medium participation of users by posting comments and liking posts; users participate on online competitions	Low participation of users by posting comments and liking posts; users answer surveys; users participate on online competitions
Library goal(s) achieved	Empower Seattle’s distinctive communities and vibrant neighborhoods: A. Bring Library resources to where people are. B. Establish the Library as a civic focal point and resource hub for Seattle’s communities. C. Adapt spaces and services to support Seattle’s vibrant neighborhoods.	Incorporate new and emerging technologies into virtual library services, and make them available anywhere/anytime: A. Encouraging content creation through digital innovation hubs, arts hubs and other innovative spaces and partnerships.	The Library must be able to meet the challenges that come with technology: A. Helping patrons to access the abundance of materials available both in the Library and online. B. Enhancing web and social media presence for remote library users. C. Maintaining the flexibility and timeliness to find and deliver information in a community that is ever changing.

Figure 1. Comparative Analysis of Facebook Pages of Three Public Libraries

With the emergence of new media technologies, a participatory culture – allowing the library users to “archive, annotate, appropriate and recirculate media content in powerful new ways” (Carlsson, 2012) – has also emerged. To be able to cater with the information needs of the contemporary library users, public libraries must consider the significance of participatory online environment in transforming its services. Hence, it is crucial for libraries to use social networking tools to keep connected with their users (Neo & Calvert, 2012).

Considered as a successful online social networking tool, Facebook (FB) has become a part of the everyday life of its members, approximately 500million as of July 2010 (Neo & Calvert, 2012). As seen in Figure 1, some public libraries have utilized Facebook to interact with and understand their user’s needs. Here are some benefits of FB based on the observations in Figure 1:

• Promoting events and introducing library services to a broader range of users through the virtual community. All the 3 public libraries use FB to announce new services and feature library collection. They are also posting events organized and supported by the library. They also hold online competitions and workshops/trainings for their users. FB is primarily used for marketing and promotion of the public libraries.
• Engaging the users by consistent communication and regular postings. Regular postings include historical information, trivial questions, community activities and photos. The more active the FB page is, the more participation they get from the users.
• Providing library users an avenue to contribute and share information. The 3 public libraries actively post surveys, questions about preferred services or books and old and new photos to get to understand their users. This encourages library users to express their views and share their knowledge which enhances the contents of the library’s FB page. By facilitating the exchange of information through the FB page, public libraries are building an interactive community.
• Visibility of the library both in the online environment and the community. Public libraries show their support to the community by organizing events and participating in the activities of the community (i.e. sports) as seen in photos posted in their FB pages. They are not only informing their users but they are also being engaged and making their presence known to the community.

References:

Carlsson, H. (2012). Working with Facebook in Public Libraries: A backstage glimpse into the library 2.0 rhetoric. Libri, 62(3), 199-210.

Neo, E., & Calvert, P. J. (2012). Facebook and the diffusion of innovation in New Zealand public libraries. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 44(4), 227-237.

https://www.facebook.com/novipubliclibrary

https://www.facebook.com/SeattlePublicLibrary

https://www.facebook.com/torontopubliclibrary

http://novilibrary.org/AboutUs/LibraryBoard/StrategicPlan2013-2018.pdf

http://www.spl.org/about-the-library/strategic-planning/goals-and-objectives

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/about-the-library/strategic-plan/create.jsp

Using RSS to Feed your Users

As Napolitani (2009) describes, RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a “web 2.0 tool that enables users to subscribe from favourite websites and collect updates from them all in one single page created through RSS reader.” Upon subscription, library users or even the library itself will automatically receive information about topics of interest to them. Information will be delivered into their device and will keep them updated.

Libraries may use RSS to share current resources and information about the library. For example, users at Cambridge University Library (CUL) can subscribe to feeds about new acquisitions, electronic resources on trial, accessible online resources, maintenance activities that might affect library services, newly-catalogued books and even, library loans. Meanwhile, the Library of Congress (LOC) gives options for the users to be updated about the library newsletters, events, employment opportunities and broad range of information on different topics covered in their collection.

Furthermore, libraries may use RSS to connect their users to other sources of interest. Libraries may also subscribe to RSS of other online sources such as news, journals, and magazines and these may be embedded in the library webpage for automatic updates. As illustrated in HCT LibGuides on nuclear power, the library subscribes to RSS feeds of World Nuclear News and Science Daily Magazine which may be helpful for users who have preference in science, physics or nuclear energy. Through the library webpage, users may subscribe to these RSS feeds or just go to the same library webpage for updates. LOC also provides RSS feed particularly for librarians (i.e. changes in LCC and LCSH) and teachers (i.e. teaching techniques, lesson plans, teacher resources) in support of their professional development.

While users can filter the information they need or prefer through RSS, libraries may improve their services either by providing or subscribing to RSS feeds to share and deliver information. Hence, RSS is a web 2.0 tool for information dissemination and current awareness.

References:

Napolitani, F. (2009). RSS feed applications in libraries: a brief note. Journal of the European Association for Health Information and Libraries, 5(2), 8.

http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/toolbox/rss.html

http://www.loc.gov/rss

http://libguides.hct.ac.ae/content.php?pid=313918&sid=2569674

Digging into Diigo

Diigo is promoted as a “personal knowledge management” tool that helps us in managing online information (Diigo, Inc., 2013). With these features, Diigo’s free services have become the favourite among the teachers in our institution:

• Personal Assistant Tool – Users can bookmark a website for future use; use the highlighter to mark important ideas; and use the sticky notes to put comments. All of the highlighted parts and sticky notes in the bookmarked webpage are saved in the Diigo account. Hence, the users can build up their own online collection.
• Flexibility – Diigo toolbar or Diigolet is compatible with different web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, IE) and mobile apps (both Android and IOS phones).
• Supports collaboration and sharing – Users can create their own workgroup to work with annotations or bookmarked webpages. Diigo communities, RSS feeds, blogs, twitters and emails can also be used to share online information. Users can also mark their collection either for public or private use only. With its new education edition, teachers can create a class account and students can work in groups.
• Easy to organize – Users can use tags or create lists to organize their online collection. This also helps in searching within the collection as it gets bigger.

Evaluation:

As Diigo is compatible with a wide variety of apps, users can access their Diigo account anytime and anywhere. Its collaboration and sharing features make it easy for users of the same company, group or interests to connect or work with each other. Companies can use this as a communication tool for their projects, especially if their employees are in different locations or from different departments. Teachers can facilitate online learning by sharing resources to Diigo class account where students can discuss their thoughts using the highlighter and sticky notes. Librarians can use Diigo as a reference tool or subject guides for lists of resources available to students and teachers. Although Diigo did not mention the limit of bookmarks/highlights or the quantity of storage space they give for the free account, Diigo is indeed living up with its branding as a knowledge management tool.

Reference:

Diigo, Inc. (2013). About Diigo. Retrieved December 8, 2013, from Diigo: https://www.diigo.com/about

Web 2.0 in simple words

If I will have to introduce the concept of Web 2.0 to someone new to it, I will have to use my own words to define it as:

 “Web 2.0 are websites using online technologies to share, publish, or communicate information which may be in texts, images, sounds, and/or audio-visuals.”

My Thoughts on Social Networking

Image courtesy of jscreationzs/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

What is social networking?

Because I’m an expat worker, I primarily use my social networking account to contact, chat, and/or exchange messages/pictures/videos with my friends and relatives from different parts of the world. As a Teacher/Librarian of ESL college students who have access to latest gadgets in a country where internet is a part of daily life, I also use social networking sites to encourage students to learn and express their thoughts in English.

Hence, my idea of social networking is connecting or communicating online with the use of technology and internet.

Social networking technologies and sites

Here are some social networking sites I have been using or used for personal and/or professional purposes:

Facebook, Edmodo, LibraryThing, Blackboard Learn, Diigo, Wikis, Skype, Yahoo Chat, Yahoo Groups, BBM, What’sApp, Friendster, Multiply blog site

Expectations from INF506 – Social Networking for Information Professionals

Before I registered for this course, I have read the description from the CSU Handbook (CSU, 2013) and have come up with the following expectations:

• To have a deeper understanding of the theories and concepts of social networking;
• To identify social networking sites/technologies appropriate for ESL students and the UAE culture;
• To understand how social networking sites can improve library services; and
• To explore practical applications of a new social networking tool or two.

Reference:

Charles Sturt University. (2013). CSU Handbook 2013. Retrieved October 2013, from INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals: http://www.csu.edu.au/handbook/handbook14/subjects/INF506.html