Library Assessment using Web 2.0

AALL Conference

July 14th, 2008

Kim Vassiliadis, UNC Chapel Hill, University Library

Web 2.0: Defined

The second generation of the WorldWide Web, especially the movementaway from static webpages to dynamicand shareable content

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Web_2.0

Web 2.0 & Library 2.0

• are like “kissing cousins”

• Library 2.0:– User centered– Provides a rich multimedia experience– Socially rich

– Communicating innovation

• Library 2.0 is not about searching but about finding and sharing

• Tonkery, Dan. Web 2.0 and Library 2.0: subscription agents respond to new technology, trends and opportunity Serials, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 142, Jul 2007.

Facebook

Facebook

Non-traditional Assessment Tools

• Insta-Polls

• Blogs

• Chat / IM Transcripts

Value of Quick Assessment

• Easy to design and implement

• User friendly

• Instant Feedback

• PR tool

Web 2.0 in Everyday Life

Insta-Poll

• Your website has a built in audience• Ask for Feedback!

Insta-Poll: Promotion

• How can we promote our services effectively?

Insta-Poll: Promotion

• Promote new Features

Insta-Poll: Feedback

Insta-Poll: Feedback

Insta-Poll: Student Preferences

Insta-Poll: Student Preferences

Insta-Poll: Davis (main) Library

• Would you like Writing Center assistance in Davis?

• If we rename the Reference Desk, what should we call it?

• How late do you stay in Davis on Friday night?

• Does Davis Library need a cafe?

• Where in Davis do you like to study?

Insta poll: Things to Consider

• Poll stability

• Phrase the question simply

• Timeliness

• Keep the poll “fresh”

• Who will monitor the poll?

• Finding room on your homepage

• This is NOT 100% valid assessment

Insta-Poll: Benefits of the Poll

• Constant Polling sends a message– “We want your feedback!” – “We’re listening”– “We may even change”

• Your users will notice the change. Keep it up to date and your users will respond.

Blogs

• Create two way communication

• Promote services

• Ask for feedback

• Answer patron comments and questions.

Blog: Virtual suggestion box

Blog: NCSU Message Board

Blog: Promote survey

Blogs: Things to Consider

• Open up communication between librarians and users.

• Keep it current

• Make it applicable to your users

• If no one reads it, does it really exist?

• Who will update it?

• Who will monitor it?

Blogs: Benefits

• Gives users an anonymous space to ask questions or post comments

• Allows librarians a chance to publicly respond.

• Opportunity to promote services and changes in policies.

• Create conversation between librarians and users.

Chat / Instant Messenger

• Chat / IM reference

• Reference questions as feedback

• Student expectations

• Research needs

• Market current services

Chat: related to the OPAC

• In Davis (main) library: An analysis of the most recent year of web-based chat and IM logs showed that nearly 20% of interactions were questions involving the OPAC.

• Prompted move from Traditional ILS OPAC to ecommerce software, Endeca

• Alleviate OPAC display and retrieval questions.

Traditional Catalog

New (Endeca) Catalog

Chat: related to citations

Chat: Citation Assistance

Citation Builder

Chat: Citation Assistance

Citing Tutorial

Chat: Benefits

• Keep statistics on your chat transcripts

• They can provide impetus for new services.

• Help you assess user expectations

• Allows you to promote new services

Chat: Things to Consider

• How to log your chat transcripts?

• Who will analyze the transcripts?

• What kind of system will you have to keep track of your statistics?

Wrap Up

• Don’t underestimate the value of instant feedback

• Builds relationships between the library and your users

• Opportunity to promote your services and resources

Thank you!

Kim Vassiliadis kimv@email.unc.edu

www. libraryquality.com