Library 2.0.1: It’s All About the User

Cliff Landis

GOLD/GALILEO Annual Users Group Conference

August 3, 2007

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b-tal/163450213/

Confused by “2.0”?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stabilo-boss/101793494/

2.0

Web

Business

Library

Learning

Fashion

Culture

Identity

Community

2.0

Web

Business

Library

Learning

Fashion

Culture

Identity

Community

3.0… 4.0…

Hype

2.0

Buzzword 2.0

A little history…http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanan_cohen/455243239/

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html

The Machine is Us/ing Us

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

Some Principles of Library 2.0

• The library is everywhere.• The library has no barriers.• The library invites participation.• The library uses flexible, best-of-breed systems.• The library encourages the heart.• The library is human.• The library recognizes that its users are human too.• Browser + Web 2.0 Applications + Connectivity = Full-

featured OPAC• Harness the library user in both design and

implementation of services• Library users should be able to craft and modify library

provided services

http://tametheweb.com/2005/12/the_collected_principles_of_li.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/habibmi/222280353/

It’s All About the User…

• But how is this different from before?

• Haven’t librarians always been user-centric?

• Is this really “us”?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarianavengers/260849159/

Librarian Stereotype

Competitionfrom

• Netflix image here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarygeek/512729050/

http://www.bookswim.com/index.html

In the past…

• Provided services without asking users what they want

• Made changes without consulting users

• Handed over services (such as the OPAC) to for-profit businesses

• Made users jump through the hoops we created for them

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanflynn/315385916/

But Now…

We must find out what users

•WANT– Social space– Help at the point of need– Collaboration– A voice in how things are

done– It NOW– It fixed YESTERDAY– Options

•NEED– High quality information– Assistance finding/using

that information– Lifelong learning skills– Information evaluation

skills– Technology skills– A quiet place to study

We must provide BOTH

http://www.flickr.com/photos/choconancy/521265142/

Have a CONVERSATION(and not just with other librarians!!!)

• Blogs• Focus

Groups

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tychay/513712600/

• Social Networking

• Polls

http://www.myspace.com/annarbordistrictlibrary

http://library20.ning.com/

http://www.valdosta.edu/library/ask.shtml

http://www.flickr.com/photos/macwebb/54612288/

Resource Sharing 2.0

How many clicks does it take to get the resource?

(The library invites participation)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewyang/73451103/

What’s the wait time?

(The library has no barriers)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vapours/307681117/

Who do you have to be to get a little help around here?

(The library encourages the heart)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoebappa/805336041/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/202872717/

…including me!