Web 2.0 and RPL:A Prairie Success Story

Jessica Cammer, May P. Chan & Trudi Stafford

© Regina Public LibraryMay 1, 2009

Objectives

• Explore Regina Public Library’s (RPL) experience with Web 2.0

• Focus on how Web 2.0 can help promote a library’s services & resources

• Offer some words of advice

Presentation Notes

http://rplweb2-staff.pbwiki.com

1) Powerpoint presentations2) video clips from the Common Craft show 3) our list of advantages & disadvantages 4) the software we used5) guidelines & forms; and additional

resources

Web 2.0: Getting Started

• One blog leads to another…

• 1st gen bloggers recruited 2nd and 3rd gen bloggers

• Similar approach taken for all other Web 2.0 initiatives that followed

Web 2.0: To the present

• Most of the training continues to be informal (no one person is responsible).

• An organic process of sharing “tips”, “tricks” etc, in a trial by error process

• Small learning curve

Why did we do it?

• The online environment + Web 2.0 = relevance growing exponentially

• The public library can benefit greatly from Web 2.0

• The public library has an important role to play

Limitations of Traditional Print Resources

PRINT:• Takes longer to produce• Costs money• Can become quickly out of date • Only reaches patrons who walk through

the door• Can miss virtual library users, new patrons

Web 2.0 Library application & benefits

• Connecting with online users

• Inviting participation & collaboration (outreach)

• Marketing & promotion of collections & programming

• Readers’ Advisory

It’s a Web 2.0 Revolution!

Web 2.0 tools have become a universal pastime crossing gender, age, cultural and class boundaries.

“The Great Equalizer”: Web 2.0 provides the means to share a vision, opinions and / or expertise (i.e. the rise of “citizen journalism”)

…everywhere there’s a computer anyway…

Library Programming

Fall 2008: “Web 2.0 Wednesdays”

Week 1: FacebookWeek 2: BloggingWeek 3: Wikis

Subject Guide: “All Things Related to Web 2.0”

http://rpl-web2point0.pbworks.com/

Virtual Reference: Application & Benefits

Instant Messaging (IM) / Live Chat

• Free• Easy to install• Minimal training• No “expertise” required• Yet another way to provide

Reference• Reaching out to online users

Meebo @ RPL

• A website organized in reverse chronological order that is frequently updated

• Each update creates a post, not a page

Why?

• Easy to use• Allows for frequent updates• Lets different staff update content

without risking the security of the webpage

• Keeps updates searchable, accessible and does not clutter up staff inboxes

• Notifies people of changes with RSS• Affordability

Blogs at RPL

• Three main types:– Blogs for promotion of library services

and readers’ advisory– Blogs for staff communication– Blogs for “breaking news”

Specific Blogs at RPL

• Business • E-Library Updates • FictionFiles• Film Theatre• Graphic Novels• Horror• Jobs at RPL• Movie• Murder by the Book

• New Books• New CDs• New and Notable

Nonfiction• Prairie History• Reference Unit• Romance• Science Fiction &

Fantasy• TeenZone• Updates

Promotion/RAwww.reginalibrary.ca/romanceblog

Promotion/RA Continuedwww.reginalibrary.ca/murderbythebook

Staff Communication

Breaking News

Breaking News Continued

What we use

• RPL uses B2 Evolution software for its blogs for a few reasons:– Free, open source, totally

customizable– No ads– Unlimited number of

accounts with customizable permission levels

– Hosted on our server

Results

• High user stats• Recognition in

the greater library world

• Staff satisfaction

Wikis

• An online site that allows users to add content, but also allows anyone to edit this content.

Why?

• Allows everyone to share their expertise

• Keeps communication open across different locations and units

• Empowers all staff to contribute

Wikis at RPL

• Two main uses:

– Staff communication/resources– Information sharing with the public

Specific Wikis at RPL

Staff Communication/ Resources

• Meeting minutes • Conference

attendee reports• Research tools for

units and public service providers

Public Information

• Subject guides on specific topics

Staff Communication

Information Sharinghttp://rpl-goinggreen.pbworks.com

What We Use

• Mediawiki – free, open source software package that is installed and hosted on your own server

• PBwiki – free online wiki host

Note: pbwiki is now called pbworks

• Online photo-sharing website• RPL’s Flickr page launched on Jan. 21,

2008• Page features approx. 200 historical

images of Regina dating back to the 1910s as well as current photos of staff, facilities and public programs

• Purpose: share our “stories” with our community

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reginapubliclibrary/

• Online social networking website• Facebook fan pages launched in

2007-2008: – All 9 branches– Prairie History Room– Dunlop Art Gallery

• Purpose: primarily to promote upcoming Library programs by sending “invites” to our fans

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Regina-SK/Regina-Public-Library-Connaught-Library/8299557740

Podcasts

• Audio broadcast that is available for download to a computer/portable media player

• Started in 2008 – Special lectures/public forums

• Podcasts are available through iTunes• Purpose: promote our public programs

and our collections

http://www.reginalibrary.ca/podcasts/index.html

• Online social bookmarking website• Prairie History Room started the

Library’s first bookmarking account in 2008

• Purpose: showcase our recommended local history & genealogy websites

http://delicious.com/prairiehistoryroom

• Web mapping application• Prairie History Room created the

Library’s first mash-up in 2008• Purpose: a map listing all the

libraries, archives, museums, organizations and government agencies that offered local history and genealogical resources

http://www.tinyurl.com/regina-genlocmap

Words of Advice…

• Tell the Library’s story• Experiment• Call on other Libraries for help• Use your staff• Commit to getting the word out• Have fun

Tell the Library’s Story

• Paraphrasing Michael Stephens’ (http://tametheweb.com/) public relations advice: – Tell your own story or else it would be

told without you– Tell the Library’s story repeatedly and in

various ways – Most importantly, tell your story well

Experiment

• All of the Web 2.0 tools/applications that RPL is featuring today are free to use and require very little technical expertise

• Not all of the Web 2.0 tools/applications may work for your library for whatever reason (e.g. lack of resources)– Experiment with some of these applications

and see what WILL work for your library

Call on Other Libraries for Help

• Other libraries have been experimenting and utilizing Web 2.0 tools and are more than willing to share their experiences with you IF you ask for it!

• Finding these libraries is easy:– Professional literature– Library blogs and wikis– Conferences

Use Your Staff

• Harness your staff’s expertise, creativity, willingness to learn and enthusiasm

• Acknowledge their contributions• Accept that not every staff member

is a willing participant• Commit to training your staff and

setting yourself up as the “expert”

Commit to Getting the Word Out

• There’s no point in utilizing Web 2.0 if your staff and your public is not aware of what you are offering!

• Publicize these features in your internal and external communications products

• Offer public programs on these features• Acknowledge compliments and respond

to criticisms

Have Fun!

• Utilizing Web 2.0 should be not a chore!

• Don’t be afraid to inject humour in your blog posts or on your Flickr page!

Acknowledgments• Special thanks to the following RPL Staff:

– Shiela Ahmed, Tyler Banadyga, Jessica Cammer, May P. Chan, Leo Deveau, Meagen Dillen, Pam Fingas, Cerys Gordon, Jason Hammond, Claire Isaac, Warren James, Patti-Lynne MacLeod, Julie McKenna, Heather Milani, Sharon Maier, Tony Neal, Coral Peterson, Lois Roth, Pat Schuett, Trudi Stafford, Ken Vaughan, Erika Wittlieb and countless other RPL staff members who have supported us by reading our blogs, updating our Facebook pages and recommending our wikis and Flickr images to the public

Presentation Notes

http://rplweb2-staff.pbwiki.com

1) Powerpoint presentations2) video clips from the Common Craft show 3) our list of advantages & disadvantages 4) the software we used5) guidelines & forms; and additional

resources