Final Group Project paper, "Web 2.0 in Libraries"

Web 2.0 in Libraries

Elizabeth Dill, Kendra Groins, Joshua Wallace

06/02/2012

        Technology is quickly changing how libraries operate on a daily basis.  The popularity of Web 2.0 tools has created a need for libraries to adapt their service models to keep up with this evolving technology.  Popular Web 2.0 tools which have been adapted for library purposes include Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Google+, blogs, Second Life and more.  These tools typically assist the library with marketing, reference and outreach services.  This paper looks at how three different libraries have used Web 2.0 tools.  Also discussed are the ways in which those tools have affected the libraries.  Librarians were interviewed from Valdosta State University’s Odum Library, University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries and Georgia Military College’s Valdosta eLibrary.  
        These three libraries each use a variety of Web 2.0 tools.  The University of Florida and Valdosta State University use these tools in their daily operations.  Odum Library uses social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter, media sharing tools such as Flickr and YouTube and blogging sites through Blogger and Wordpress.  The University of Florida’s libraries use the social networking sites Facebook, Twitter and Google+, media sharing sites Flickr and YouTube and a statewide IM Chat reference service called Ask-A-Librarian.  Georgia Military College has social networking pages on Facebook and Twitter along and provides virtual reference services in Second Life.
        Libraries can have a variety of motivations to adapt Web 2.0 tools for their own use.  For some libraries, such as Odum Library, it’s about staying ahead of the curve.  If librarians are able to anticipate the next trend in social media, they can have a presence set up before the development becomes commonplace.  Many libraries adapt new Web 2.0 technologies because they want to remain connected with their users.  The libraries at the University of Florida have done this with Twitter.  These libraries have been able to use the service to get feedback from students about the library.  This feedback is newly acquired.  The eLibrary at Georgia Military College had different motivations.  The librarians viewed Second Life as a tool to help patrons get easy access to online reference services.  They also saw pedagogical applications in Second Life and thought that might benefit students and promote digital literacy.
        Before a library can adapt a Web 2.0 tool for library use, they have to ascertain which tools are popular and how useful they are for library service.  For Valdosta State University, the adaptation process is all about recognizing social media trends.  For example, Facebook’s adaptation process was easy, as many librarians were able to spot it rising popularity prior to its occurrence. In addition, as they were previously blogging, it was also relatively simple to synchronize their existing blogs to post to Facebook.
Librarians can keep up with trends in a variety of ways.  The librarian we interviewed at the University of Florida keeps up with popular technology blogs to find new Web 2.0 tools which might be useful for the library.  Some libraries adopt new services because they have seen their success in other libraries.  The Valdosta branch of Georgia Military College adapted Second Life because one of its librarians had used it successfully in another job.  This prior experience showed the librarians at GMC that this Web 2.0 tool worked well within a library setting.  Libraries have a variety of methods by which they determine which Web 2.0 tools to implement.
        Web 2.0 tools can be used to fulfill a wide variety of functional service areas in the library.  Web 2.0 tools at Valdosta State University’s Odum Library are typically used to market services and collections.  Odum Library also uses these tools to promote upcoming events occurring in the library.  Reference, cataloging, circulation and archives are the most active users of Odum Library’s Web 2.0 tools.  At the University of Florida libraries, the Web 2.0 tools are typically used by the Library Service Desk, which includes Reference and Circulation.  The social media networks are characteristically used to promote events and services of the library.  The library occasionally gets questions over Twitter, but most inquiries are made via their Ask-A-Librarian service.  This service is used by the reference desk to take online reference questions.  This is a statewide service which connects all of the state’s university libraries in the University of Florida system to a single chat program.  Finally, at the Valdosta branch of Georgia Military College, the social networks are moderated by the college’s administration, but the library has its own use for Second Life.  Second Life serves as a virtual reference desk at this library.  It is used to facilitate reference questions and promote digital literacy among their students who may be operating a computer for the first time.  From the interviews conducted, marketing and reference appear to be the services which get the most benefit from Web 2.0 tools in the library.
        None of the libraries we interviewed provided us with specific usage statistics for their Web 2.0 tools.  However, some usage statistics can be found by simply looking at the tools.  Odum Library’s Facebook page has 465 likes and the University of Florida’s library Facebook has 319 likes.  On Twitter, @VSUOdumLibrary has 72 followers while @uflib has 965 followers.  The University of Florida libraries seem to have the more active Twitter account, while Odum Library seems to have the more active Facebook page.  The eLibrary at Georgia Military College does not keep a record of statistics for Second Life; however, records are kept by Community Virtual Library, the location of virtual reference service on Second Life.
        Web 2.0 tools are often managed by existing librarians and the librarians who wish to use these tools have to justify their usage somehow.  Libraries do not always have direct access to usage statistics.  Libraries may not keep usage statistics for the service, or they have an IT department which restricts access to the statistics.  Librarians must still justify the use of Web 2.0 tools, so that they can be validated as a library resource.  All three of the libraries interviewed responded similarly to this justification issue.  They stated that the low cost and low maintenance characteristics of Web 2.0 tools justify their use.  Web 2.0 technologies are often free or at minimal costs, regardless of individual or business status.  Both Odum Library and University of Florida’s library state that their Web 2.0 presence does not take time away from the general everyday responsibilities of being a librarian.  They also maintain that sustaining a Web 2.0 presence is reasonable due to the marketing benefits and user-interactions that they bring to the libraries.
        In conclusion, these libraries have all successfully adapted Web 2.0 technologies in one form or another.  Their specific Web 2.0 applications, motives and practices for the technology may vary, but they have all seen measures of success.  It would certainly appear that these libraries’ use of their Web 2.0 technologies are each justified.  Both of the universities and the college use their social networks for marketing and promotions.  While they do have a natural market users with the students, faculty and staff of their universities, these libraries still have a need to promote their services, collections and events.  The University of Florida libraries and the eLibrary at Georgia Military College use Web 2.0 tools for reference obligations.  Moreover, ACRL mandates that distance education students receive similar, but alternative methods to resolve their reference issues.  In order to use their social media presence to its fullest potential, these libraries constantly evaluate how they are using Web 2.0 tools, and acclimate as needed to reach the widest audience.

Interview with Ebonye Bennett, Library Associate, Georgia Military College

1. What web 2.0 tools are you working with at GMC library?

We do not use very many Web 2.0 tools w at GMC library at this time.  The College itself has Facebook and Twiter pages.  Elizabeth has created a mobile site for our library, however, it has not been implemented yet.


2.   a) Can you describe the adaption process for any one of the systems you work with?

Elizabeth was working with Second Life virtual world in her eLearning graduate assistant job and told me about it and showed it to me. She uses it as a tool to help create curricula for Spanish classes at GMC.  She is also a reference librarian (or Cybrarian) in Second Life too.  Because she was already doing this independently in the Community Virtual Library, we just began spreading the word about it to our faculty and students at GMC.  She weekly serves as a reference librarian and holds office hours there too.

b) What were some of the motivations for adapting that system?
Really, because Second Life was already being used, it wasn’t a matter of adapting the system, but just promoting what was already being done.   Most of the faculty and students were unaware of Second Life, so it was new to them.  And because we work in an eLibrary it is nice to be able to identify a Web 2.0 tool that had pedagogical applications that we could help support.   

c) Can you describe the decision-making criteria in using that particular system?
See b

d) What were the staff’s responses to using this system in the library?
There are many differences of opinions.  Most find to be similar to a video game which has positive and negative connotations to it.  Some see it lacking educational value.  Many see it as too resource-intensive to use on a large scale.  Some have created avatars and explored it.

3.   a) What departments in the library actively use these systems?

In our library branch at Valdosta, we have two employees.  I work full-time during the day and Elizabeth works part-time in the evenings.  We have two student employees.  Elizabeth is the one who primarily uses Second Life.

b) What function do they serve for these departments?

Some of our students are very technically savvy, other are picking up a mouse for the first time.  We use Second Life to facilitate reference, but probably more so we use it to stimulate interest in digital literacy.

4. If they are using technologies such as blogs, how are their usage statistics?

At this point we are not keeping statistics for Second Life.

5. How do they justify allocation of resources for virtual presence (a second life or facebook presence, virtual reference services etc ) if they have?

As there really are no additional monetary resources being expended on Second Life, no justification has been necessary to use it.

Rejection

Received a grand letter from University of Louisiana saying that they were not pursuing me as a candidate.  Not even that they picked someone else, they just didn't want me.  I have to admit, in instances like this, I can't help but think what is meant to be will and this was not meant to be.  The search committee seemed like a bunch of older white females interviewing me for membership into the country club. They answered my professional development questions with disinterest and seemed to invisibility shudder when I asked about tenure.

The thing that was a little hard to swallow, though, was how perfect every single person said the job would be for me (including my advisor) and how ardently the school initially pursued me.  I sent my resume in one day, the next went out five (not three) requests for written references. 

Also, I hate to admit it, but the job was 30 minutes from New Orleans, which would have certainly had its advantages, particularly after being confined to Valdosta for the last year and a half.  And  now, since it's starting to really seem that my only hope for a decent job is in Nowheresville, OK. it's all the more disappointing.

 Since today is Memorial Day, no mail. Maybe they'll be two rejection letters in the mail awaiting me tomorrow.  I wonder from whom...

Dumb People Hiring

Do you what is extremely annoying to me?  Jobs that require POST MLIS professional experience. WTH?  Sorry, I have paid, professional librarian experience, but because I was attending graduate school at the time, that doesn't count as experience in your eyes?

Today, I received a rejection letter (I get at least several a week) from a COMMUNITY COLLEGE of all places.  It was not the standard, "we've chosen someone else..." or "your credentials were impressive, but..." They actually had the nerve to say I was not qualified.

Dear Elizabeth Dill:

Thank you for your interest for the position of Librarian at XXX. Unfortunately you do not meet the established minimum qualifications to be considered for this position.

Seriously?!?!  At least 20 minutes of a customized cover letter; add another 20 for your dumb ass online application  and you won't count my professional experience that you would have counted had I not been in grad school? Does any other graduate degree do this? *&($^#&#$#

Q&A with Michael Holt Creator of VSU's Institutional Repository

Interview with Michael Holt, Librarian, Valdosta State University and links to his institutional repository (permission granted):

How and where did you hear about CMS?

The first I heard about the CMS was from an MLIS professor at our library who had started a pilot project to create an institutional repository at Valdosta State University using the software around 2007. Soon, our project to start an IR at our institution was rolled into a statewide initiative that used the same CMS and it has taken off from there.

What were your motivations to adopt CMS for its current use?

We use our CMS as an institutional repository. This means that we use it to house and preserve our institution’s research and other output in a manner that assures its preservation and accessibility. We also implemented the system as part of a statewide institutional repository program, the GALILEO Knowledge Repository (GKR). The system is linked off of our library’s website and is administered by library staff, but it is not technically part of the library’s website.

What was your decision making criteria? What is the name of CMS you are using now?

The system was chosen primarily because it was the one used by the GKR initiative. The name of the CMS we currently use is called Dspace. We had chosen DSpace before the GKR initiative began, primarily because it was a stable open source solution. However,  we have stuck with Dspace because it is the choice of the GKR and makes communication between institutional repositories much easier.

What are the important benefits or advantages of CMS you are using now over the old system or another CMS system you've used in the past?

Well, we had no real CMS before Dspace, so the advantages of any CMS vs. no CMS are pretty clear in my mind. Having a CMS has exponentially increased our ability to provide access to institutional research output that would otherwise never have been discovered. Because it is indexed by google, our research is getting used in ways I never would have thought possible before we implemented it.

How was the learning curve?

The learning curve for me was extremely steep. I more or less had to become a systems administrator for our Dspace installation before it was all over. However, this clearly would not be the case at other institutions where there is more IT staff to dedicate to library CMS software.  I can’t imagine the learning curve would be that steep for a knowledgeable IT person. But if you don’t have IT experience, get ready for a crash course in UNIX shell operations, java script, postgresql, and other administrative tasks.

To take a look at the CMS in action one can check out the following links:

Vtext (Local Dspace install) – http://vtext.valdosta.edu

GKR site:  www.gaknowledge.org

Dspace website:  www.dspace.org/

_______________________________

I was very impressed by Michael Holt as he shows, yet again, the librarian who has to wear many, many hats to fulfill patrons' needs.  In another academic institution, he would have no need to be the creator and maintainer of such an involved project of this magnitude and technical difficulty.  If it were not for him, VSU would not have an institutional repository and what an embarrassment that would be for VSU, Odum and, in particular, the MLIS Department.  

Did a Joomla site. Just accomplished the bare minimum for the requirements. It's a lot of work for such a plain looking site.  Wanna see my cool ass site? www.elizabethdill.com.

Laughing in the face...

of rejection! Every day it seems (but usually at least three days a week) I receive a rejection letter from some library job to which I applied. Today, it was the University of Alaska. Why, you might ask would I apply to the University of Alaska?  No, I don't want to move there.  It's for the campus interview! I'll take a free trip to Alaska.  Anyway, I kind of look forward to getting my mail to see which school has DENIED me, but the University of Alaska seems particularly insulting. Seriously?