Blogs, Wikis and Social Software

Chris Peters

Information Technology Specialist

Library Development

Washington State Library

cpeters@secstate.wa.gov

Web 2.0 and Library 2.0

• What is Web 2.0?

• We’ll discuss a few Web 2.0 tools

• What is “Library 2.0”?

• What are the best examples of Library 2.0 tools and websites?

What Is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 is participatory and collaborative

Web 2.0 offers a customized user experience, rather that a one-size-

fits-all approach

Web 1.0

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is reusable

Other Web 2.0 buzzwords

• Convergence• Standardization• The Long Tail• Simplicity• Radical Trust• Dynamic rather than static• Go to where the user is• Granularity of addressable content

Let’s Talk More in depth about a few Web 2.0 Tools

• Blogs

• Wikis

• RSS

• Social Bookmarks

In theory, blogs take the complexity out of creating content for the web

Most blogs have a comments area to facilitate feedback and conversation

Blogs are organized in reverse chronological order

Blog entries are usually short, first-person, chatty and informal

A Wiki is a type of website that facilitates collective authoring by allowing multiple users

to add, remove and edit content.

Wikis keep track of changes so that it’s relatively easy to backtrack

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) brings news and updates to one place

“Subscribing” to an RSS feed can be tricky, but it’s getting easier

“Autodiscovery” is making it easier to subscribe to RSS feeds

Social Bookmarking sites provide an easy way to save resources online and

share them with others.

To get the most out of bookmarking, install the browser plugins

Social bookmarks also allow you to see

what other people are linking to

Other Web 2.0 Tools

• Instant Messaging• Podcasting• Photo sharing• Video sharing• Personalized homepages such as MyYahoo• Personalized search• Online Office apps• Webified Desktops• And 1,000 other websites

Library 2.0Librarian 1.0

Librarian 2.0

2.0 Library services are user-centered, not library-centered.

2.0 Libraries go where the users are

2.0 Libraries value collaboration and groupwork

Other facets of Librarian 2.0

• She knows that content is King

• She tells stories

• She plays games

• She plays with new tools and technologies

• She understands the value of training

• She understands the importance of project management

Librarian 2.0 (cont.)

• She trusts herself and trusts her users

• Her planning and decision-making processes are open and transparent

Which library services are starting to feel the impact of Library 2.0?

• Online catalogs• News and Announcements• Community Information• Local History• Subject Guides• Reader’s Advisory• Professional Development• Reference• Etc., etc., etc.

Catalog 2.0 allows users to contribute their reviews, comments, tags and ratings to

individual records

Catalog 2.0 provides a wide variety of search options

Catalog 2.0 provides RSS feeds

News, Marketing and Outreach

Community Information and Local History

Subject Guides

Book Reviews and Reader’s Advisory

Professional Development

What Else?

• Virtual reference

• Checking out nontraditional items such as ipods and e-books.

• Posting clips of library events on YouTube

• Posting library photos on Flickr

• Online storytime

• Ad infinitum