building together with collaborative web technologies revised
DESCRIPTION
Presentation at Jamaica Library Service (JLS) 2009 International conference.TRANSCRIPT
Building together with Collaborative Web
Technologies:
How Can Public
& School Libraries Collaborate?
Conference Information
JAMAICA LIBRARY SERVICE60TH ANNIVERSARY
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 16 – 21, 2009
SUNSET JAMAICA GRANDE RESORT & SPA, OCHO RIOS, ST. ANN, JAMAICA
About Presenter
Mr. Mark-Shane E. Scale, Lecturer/Departmental Librarian;
Department of Library & Information Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona,
markshane.scale AT gmail.com
Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO,
summarizes today’s Web developments:
(qtd. in Amanda Beck)
“the Web has moved to its next stage" and has become
"significantly social", "open, and extensive"
Ordinary people are on the Web
Emerging Web services allow ordinary people to create content on the Web without knowledge of the underlying Internet's infrastructure.
Library Automation Yesterday
Library’s Database
OPAC
Bib. records a.k.a.
Cataloguing
User & or Circulation Records
Serial Tracking Records
Acquisition records
Today’s library automation is undergoing transformation
(Cohn et al. xvii).
Today’s Web has: “forced comprehensive re-examination of what automating the library really meant – not just for libraries but for the library user as well”
Because Library users are online…
INTERNET
Library users’ expectations areCHANGING.
Finding information is “fun”!
It doesn’t have to be tedious and time consuming like using the library.
Library user’s NEW expectations
Before the Web, to see what my friends are up to, I had to call them!
Now I can get live updates on what they are working
on.
Isn’t that cool?
Today’s use of computing for getting library work done includes:
Connecting the library’s database to the Connecting the library’s database to the systems of outsiders systems of outsiders
Accessing information in all formats Accessing information in all formats wherever its location, “at any time, day wherever its location, “at any time, day or night” or night”
(Cohn et al. xviii).
Library user’s NEW expectations
I definitely can access all the information I need in the comfort & security of
my home.
Right beside my coffee.
Today’s Library automation
Made possible by:
Cloud ComputingCloud Computing
Growing Internet Growing Internet usage among library usage among library
usersusers
Cloud ComputingCloud Computing
The “virtualization of resources that maintains and manages itself
Kevin Hartig
Cloud computing
Concept refers to:
• the sharing and usage of applications and resources of a network environment to get work done without concern about ownership and management of the network’s resources and applications.
Cloud ComputingCloud Computing
Computer resources & data not Computer resources & data not stored on one’s PC, but hosted stored on one’s PC, but hosted
elsewhere to be made accessible elsewhere to be made accessible in any location and at any time.in any location and at any time.
This new computing makes it possible for a new model of library automation.
A new model that can be based on the concept of CollaborationCollaboration
Collaboration
process whereby, “individuals and/or groups process whereby, “individuals and/or groups work together on a practical endeavor”. work together on a practical endeavor”.
has always been “a fundamental feature” in has always been “a fundamental feature” in every organisation every organisation
more important today due to Information and more important today due to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that Communication Technologies (ICT) that support “network formation and support”. support “network formation and support”.
Michelle W. L. Fong (vi)
ICT enabled Collaboration
Collaboration to take place “on a virtual Collaboration to take place “on a virtual dimension, regardless of time and dimension, regardless of time and location” location”
Creates the “virtual organization” - in Creates the “virtual organization” - in which a group of persons are able to which a group of persons are able to share and access available resources share and access available resources regardless of location.regardless of location.
Michelle W. L. Fong (vi)
Through ICT enabled Collaboration
The use of virtual organizations by small The use of virtual organizations by small and medium organizations with and medium organizations with suppliers and customers can result in suppliers and customers can result in higher customer satisfaction and the higher customer satisfaction and the achievement of “strategic objectives”. achievement of “strategic objectives”.
Michelle W. L. Fong (vi)
The Benefit of External Collaboration
Stamm, Bettina von. “Collaboration with other firms and customers: innovation’s secret weapon” Strategy & Leadership 32.3 (2004): 16 – 20.
External collaboration with other firms & customers result in improved
services and expanded company markets.
With Virtual External collaboration
Wagner, Christian, and Ann Majchrzak. "Enabling Customer-Centricity Using Wikis and the Wiki Way." Journal of Management Information Systems 23.3 (2006-7): 17 - 43.
Customers not only access but change the content on a company’s Web
presence.
ICT/Web tools for External Collaboration
• Wikis
• Collaborative Website Development tools
• Collaborative Online Documents
• Collaborative Custom Search Engines
Wikis
What are Wikis
tools for building websites without the tools for building websites without the knowledge of HTML and with the option knowledge of HTML and with the option of continuous collaboration. of continuous collaboration.
A “live evolving document” that allows A “live evolving document” that allows uses to track access to and monitor uses to track access to and monitor changes - PBwiki.com changes - PBwiki.com
Examples
The people's encyclopaedia
The people's instructional manual for how-to information
Wikis can
Support the creation of information resources that are continuously edited and expanded.
Wikis can create Intranets & Extranets
• Facilitating exchange of messages
• Manage company documents
• Publish newsletters and policies
• Create virtual PR or Marketing presence
Example of Albany County Public Library staff wiki providing information on the department of Technical Services
http://albystaff.pbwiki.com/TSS
Farkas, Meredith. “Technology Goes Local: Collecting Local Knowledge with Social Software.” American Libraries (Sep. 2008): 50.
“The local knowledge residing in the minds of our patrons is a treasure. Using social software, we can collect and preserve that knowledge for the benefit of the entire community. Since a wiki can receive contributions from many people, it's
a perfect tool for collecting local knowledge.”
Collaborative Website Development
Collaborative Website Development
Gary B. Shelly and Misty Vermaat
Philipp LenssenPhilipp Lenssen
Google Sites (http://sites.google.com) is a “content management system that includes wiki-like features” (268).
A content management systems organises and manages access to documents and files, as well as indexing files and documents created by users so as to facilitate searching and retrieval (732).
Google Sites
http://sites.google.com/site/sites/
Gralla, Preston. "Review: Microsoft Office Live Basics Vs. Google Apps For Your Domain." Information Week 20 Sep.
2008. Information Week 2 Jan. 2009 <http://www.informationweek.com/news/infrastructure/revie
ws/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193003850>.
“simple to use and basic”
“point-and-click tools”
“create a page in minutes”.
Google sites is:
Google Sites features“Web-based page-creation tool…”“buttons for formatting text, creating links, including images... “several different layouts...from which you can choose…” “Publishing the site is simple; click the Publish button.” (par. 16)
Preston Gralla
Collaborative Web Documents:
Online document collaboration and sharing
Google Docs
“ traditional business programs (word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software)”
“ used through a browser that connects to the data on Google's machines.”
Hosch, William L. "Google Inc." Hosch, William L. "Google Inc." Encyclopædia Encyclopædia BritannicaBritannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. . 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 18 Dec. 2008 <18 Dec. 2008 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-278431>. >.
Google Docs
Web-based Document Management System Web-based Document Management System “for storage and management of a
company’s documents, such as word processing documents, presentations, and
spreadsheets”.
(Shelly and Vermaat 736).
Google Docs
Web-based Document Management System that has
the ability to track a document in its life cycle, from creation, the various stages of being edited and finally, to the archival stage of a document.
(Shelly and Vermaat 736).
Collaborative Customizable Search Engines
Today, Search Engines are
popular tools for discovering content on the Web.
(Chuang and Wu 1). (Chuang and Wu 1).
Today search engines are considered the primary tools for information seeking on the Web and are among “the most important web services in cyberspace”
With today’s developments, Librarians can make search
engines better!
Just use tools for building customized search engines like Google Custom Search
GCSE allows the builder “to focus on selecting valuable content and tuning
the ranking criteria, while Google does all the "heavy lifting" of crawling, indexing, ranking, and displaying
results.”
Eric Enge and John Biundo,Eric Enge and John Biundo,Search Engine ConsultantsSearch Engine Consultants
“Reference librarians and digital bibliographers... can crank out
their bookmarks and favorites and convert them into focused search
engines.
Barbara QuintBarbara Quint EditorEditor
Searcher Magazine Searcher Magazine
When patrons/clients come to the Web site, they can tap the
recommended sources automatically as they perform
searches.
Barbara QuintBarbara Quint EditorEditor
Searcher Magazine Searcher Magazine
Even after the library is closed and the Even after the library is closed and the librarians have all gone home, the librarians have all gone home, the
genius and experience of the librarians genius and experience of the librarians will still be serving patrons, 24/7/365 will still be serving patrons, 24/7/365
(366 in a leap year).” (366 in a leap year).”
Barbara QuintBarbara Quint EditorEditor
Searcher Magazine Searcher Magazine
We have learnt of the new Web tools & Services that we can use to collaborate.
So what’s next?
Let us clarify our options!
THIS WAY PLEASE!
Options for Collaboration
1. Collaborating with users or the Public
2. Collaborating with other Librarians
Option 1
Collaborating with users or the Public
Librarians do not know it all, and sometimes
clients can better meet the information needs of
other clients.
Meredith Farkas
Options 1
Subject guides
Directories
Collaborating with users or the Public where they contribute to:
Search Engine development
Subject bibliographies
Option 2
Librarians within a parish can combine
their •expertise,
•resources &• time
Collaborating with other Librarians
How-to Books or Manuals for colleagues
Joint Subject guides for users
Joint Subject bibliographies
Option 2 – Librarians build
Resources for other Resources for other LibrariansLibrarians
• Joint Subject Joint Subject bibliographiesbibliographies
• Joint Subject guidesJoint Subject guides• How-to Guides or How-to Guides or
Manuals Manuals • Customised Search Customised Search
EnginesEngines
Resources for Users • Joint Subject bibliographies
• Joint Subject guides• How-to Guides or
Manuals • Customised Search
Engines
Now you know!
Why not do!
Collaborate! Now!
The END.