Social bookmarking seems like it should be a great way to browse the web. The web is exactly that- an untamed and confusing mass of tangled information that is all but impossible to navigate. Collaborative bookmarking allows for users- people just like me- to add helpful descriptors to websites and allows those sites that are most tagged with a certain word to rise to the top and become findable. This tool is useful for everyday users or institutions or libraries (as we have seen).
However, the reality is that searching the web using del.icio.us is not better than searching on engines like Google. The lack of helpful or reliable descriptions makes searching on del.icio.us reliant only on page titles and tags. Additionally, searching for multi-word ideas yields almost no relevant results. For example, searching "weddings" in either Google or del.icio.us will bring up some good sites for those wanting information on weddings. However, searching "cheap weddings" on del.icio.us yields some results about weddings and some results that are cheap, such as cheap airfare. A search on del.icio.us often brings up results without the search words as tags or in the web page title. This seems to be a problem more with the search interface or algorithm, but the results are the same. Del.icio.us is not a place to search the web. For users who are just browsing, it may be useful, but not much more useful than old-fashioned web surfing.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Cultivating creativity and collaboration
Organizational culture is one of the most important factors in employee productivity, creativity, and happiness. Dan Pink makes a great argument for this in his book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Pink says that employee motivation and creativity is spurred by the amount of freedom workers are awarded. If employees feel as if they can work on their own schedules in their own spaces on their own projects, then they are more motivated to get projects done with greater efficiency and efficacy. In this kind of environment, where employees feel that they can work when they want and where they want, social media technology facilitating internal collaboration will be widely used since it coincides with the culture of freedom to work whenever, wherever.
This is seen in the similarity of points made in Pink's book and in Kelly's post saying that proper management attitudes, freedom to come and go from the office, and freedom to work nontraditional hours facilitate employee collaboration, both online and offline. Mackie's support of telecommuting also supports Pink's ideas that employee freedoms and willingness to collaborate are connected. Clearly, organizational culture dictates whether collaboration will help or hinder an employee's success in the company. The implementation of social media/collaboration tools will only be successful if the culture supports it.
This is seen in the similarity of points made in Pink's book and in Kelly's post saying that proper management attitudes, freedom to come and go from the office, and freedom to work nontraditional hours facilitate employee collaboration, both online and offline. Mackie's support of telecommuting also supports Pink's ideas that employee freedoms and willingness to collaborate are connected. Clearly, organizational culture dictates whether collaboration will help or hinder an employee's success in the company. The implementation of social media/collaboration tools will only be successful if the culture supports it.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Wiki software in libraries
Wikis are a tricky subject for me. Libraries are striving to keep up their reputation as places of authoritative information, and I don't think that adding a service the likes of Wikipedia would do anything to improve that reputation. We need to make sure that all the information associated with or coming from the library is accurate and verified. A reputation for reliable information is one of the only things the library has over all the other information providers today. While we have seen some good examples of very successful wikis, I believe that the library needs to have control over what information it recommends to its trusting patrons. Thus, I don't think that an informational wiki sponsored by the library and edited by the public has a place in libraries.
However, wikis are a great tool when the editing is limited to a specific group of people. It allows anyone to edit the web pages without any coding knowledge. This capability is especially useful if the wiki is used to create the library's website; librarians no longer need to wait for a technician to update the site because they can do it themselves. Wikis seem to be successfully used for subject guides, personal projects, and employee intranets. Of especial use is the discussion feature of wikis, which allow patrons to suggest additions to the page that librarians can then evaluate and add if appropriate. This is an ideal way to incorporate the interactive and collaborative information aspects of a wiki while allowing librarians to vet the information before recommending it.
As for Wikipedia and the library's place in this environment, I think that the University of Washington Libraries Digital Initiative has found the best way to integrate library services in community information. I found their project to insert links to valuable library sources in pertinent Wikipedia articles a wonderful and innovative way to bring library services to the public without purporting the information on the article as accurate or library-supported.
However, wikis are a great tool when the editing is limited to a specific group of people. It allows anyone to edit the web pages without any coding knowledge. This capability is especially useful if the wiki is used to create the library's website; librarians no longer need to wait for a technician to update the site because they can do it themselves. Wikis seem to be successfully used for subject guides, personal projects, and employee intranets. Of especial use is the discussion feature of wikis, which allow patrons to suggest additions to the page that librarians can then evaluate and add if appropriate. This is an ideal way to incorporate the interactive and collaborative information aspects of a wiki while allowing librarians to vet the information before recommending it.
As for Wikipedia and the library's place in this environment, I think that the University of Washington Libraries Digital Initiative has found the best way to integrate library services in community information. I found their project to insert links to valuable library sources in pertinent Wikipedia articles a wonderful and innovative way to bring library services to the public without purporting the information on the article as accurate or library-supported.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Marketing Critique: Yorba Linda Public Library
Yorba Linda Public Library is a city library in Southern California serving a population of approximately 71,000 city residents. This city has a very high median household income, which implies an Internet-savvy population with frequent access to new technologies. Thus, YLPL is in a great place to implement and explore the opportunities made available by social media.
Yorba Linda’s social media presence is a bit mild, but appropriate to its audience and community. Yorba Linda is only a city library with no additional branches, so I believe that its social media endeavors, while smaller and less flashy than other library system’s, is very specific to its audience and is able to speak to patrons that exist not only online, but also in the physical space of the library. For example, YLPL has a YouTube account that is infrequently updated and has only 17 subscribers and 2 friends. However, the library’s teen advisory board, a group of real teenagers who are active at the library, created all the video uploads. While this page is not a wildly popular Internet sensation, it is entirely owned by the teen patrons who subscribe to it. The most recent video is titled “Mock Battle of the Books” and is described as “a practice session for Yorba Linda Public Library’s 2011 Battle of the Books.” This video, created by teens for teens, not only increases participation among those who are in the video, but also gets teens who are not in the video excited about the upcoming program. This is what all of the library’s marketing endeavors are designed to do.
Yorba Linda Public Library also has a Facebook “local business” page where they post messages about upcoming events, announcements, and book recommendations. The posts are frequent, relevant, and written in an appropriate tone. Messages invite patrons to events, make reader’s advisory suggestions, and notify the public to library closures. YLPL’s usage of Facebook applications and abilities is also quite commendable. While some features are semi-neglected, it is encouraging to see that the library is willing to try many applications and run with those that work. For example, there is a “discussions” feature on the Facebook page where the library began a “discussion” inviting Facebook users to suggest improvements to the teen programs. While this makes it obvious that the Facebook initiative is primarily targeted towards teens, it also makes it obvious that the library wants to make its Facebook page just as interactive and teen-owned as its YouTube page is. Even though YLPL will have to eventually adjust their target audience as they recognize that more users are older than teens, this application demonstrates their online flexibility. Their Facebook page additionally uses the photo and calendar application, keeping it updated and reflective of what’s happening in the library. All information on the page supports the library’s events and keeps the public well informed about all activities at the library. Perhaps indicative that the library is aware of having a wider audience than the teen population, adult events are also marketed on their Facebook page.
Yet, I would say that YLPL’s twitter feed is the social media tool most used to target the adult population. YLPL’s tweets often cover adult events in addition to teen and children events. Additionally, tweets are often links to pertinent news stories about the library or subjects the library is discussing, such as news about casting for the new Hunger Games movie. Books such as The Help are promoted, and new additions are shared. While I assumed that a twitter feed could substitute for the status updates on Facebook, YLPL is using both for different purposes and capitalizing on the pros and cons of each tool. The statuses on Facebook have a different tone and are able to add more content and personality to posts. This is effective when marketing to teens, their primary demographic on Facebook. The twitter posts are shorter, more informative, and more to the point, which busy adults will appreciate. The only downfall I see with YLPL’s use of Twitter is the frequency and repetition of posts; events are promoted repeatedly and several posts are made in a day. However, not being a seasoned Twitter user myself, I am unsure of what the social norms are for this tool, and if users are used to multiple tweets from the library in a day.
Adding to its social media repertoire, YLPL also has a Flickr account with photos of the library’s events, library cards, and “field trips” where they post photos of other local libraries. This helps to create interest in libraries all over the region, which is a great cooperative promotion for YLPL to take on. While there is not much activity on the Flickr stream, the photos are interesting and act as good promotions of events. However, I do believe that this tool can be marketed to a much greater effect. While the “info” part of their Facebook profile mentions their Flickr account, there are no other mentions of it on their website or Twitter account. Their website at the very least should be a place where patrons can learn about all of the library’s online activity and have the opportunity to participate in what could be a more thriving virtual environment.
Lastly, there is one thing that I find incredibly strange after researching Yorba Linda Public Library’s online endeavors. In looking over YLPL’s YouTube page, I noticed a spam comment and wished to notify them about this comment and that it should be removed. Fearing that a simple comment of my own would go unnoticed, I searched for alternate methods of notifying the library. Searching the website for contact information, I could only find the library’s phone number and address; as far as I can tell, they do not have an email address! How strange that a library would incorporate such new social media tools into their services and lack such an essential means of online communication! If I had to pick one thing that Yorba Linda Public Library could improve about their services, it would be to add a means of direct online communication such as email. Even an IM or chat service would suffice if an YLPL librarian were on the other end.
In conclusion, Yorba Linda Public Library is a great example of how a small city library can use social media tools to great effect. All patrons can benefit from their online services, which present a strong and consistent branding of the library. While the library can vastly improve their services with the addition of email contact information or updating and promoting their Flickr and YouTube accounts more effectively, this library has begun its social media endeavors appropriately and with great value.
Yorba Linda’s social media presence is a bit mild, but appropriate to its audience and community. Yorba Linda is only a city library with no additional branches, so I believe that its social media endeavors, while smaller and less flashy than other library system’s, is very specific to its audience and is able to speak to patrons that exist not only online, but also in the physical space of the library. For example, YLPL has a YouTube account that is infrequently updated and has only 17 subscribers and 2 friends. However, the library’s teen advisory board, a group of real teenagers who are active at the library, created all the video uploads. While this page is not a wildly popular Internet sensation, it is entirely owned by the teen patrons who subscribe to it. The most recent video is titled “Mock Battle of the Books” and is described as “a practice session for Yorba Linda Public Library’s 2011 Battle of the Books.” This video, created by teens for teens, not only increases participation among those who are in the video, but also gets teens who are not in the video excited about the upcoming program. This is what all of the library’s marketing endeavors are designed to do.
Yorba Linda Public Library also has a Facebook “local business” page where they post messages about upcoming events, announcements, and book recommendations. The posts are frequent, relevant, and written in an appropriate tone. Messages invite patrons to events, make reader’s advisory suggestions, and notify the public to library closures. YLPL’s usage of Facebook applications and abilities is also quite commendable. While some features are semi-neglected, it is encouraging to see that the library is willing to try many applications and run with those that work. For example, there is a “discussions” feature on the Facebook page where the library began a “discussion” inviting Facebook users to suggest improvements to the teen programs. While this makes it obvious that the Facebook initiative is primarily targeted towards teens, it also makes it obvious that the library wants to make its Facebook page just as interactive and teen-owned as its YouTube page is. Even though YLPL will have to eventually adjust their target audience as they recognize that more users are older than teens, this application demonstrates their online flexibility. Their Facebook page additionally uses the photo and calendar application, keeping it updated and reflective of what’s happening in the library. All information on the page supports the library’s events and keeps the public well informed about all activities at the library. Perhaps indicative that the library is aware of having a wider audience than the teen population, adult events are also marketed on their Facebook page.
Yet, I would say that YLPL’s twitter feed is the social media tool most used to target the adult population. YLPL’s tweets often cover adult events in addition to teen and children events. Additionally, tweets are often links to pertinent news stories about the library or subjects the library is discussing, such as news about casting for the new Hunger Games movie. Books such as The Help are promoted, and new additions are shared. While I assumed that a twitter feed could substitute for the status updates on Facebook, YLPL is using both for different purposes and capitalizing on the pros and cons of each tool. The statuses on Facebook have a different tone and are able to add more content and personality to posts. This is effective when marketing to teens, their primary demographic on Facebook. The twitter posts are shorter, more informative, and more to the point, which busy adults will appreciate. The only downfall I see with YLPL’s use of Twitter is the frequency and repetition of posts; events are promoted repeatedly and several posts are made in a day. However, not being a seasoned Twitter user myself, I am unsure of what the social norms are for this tool, and if users are used to multiple tweets from the library in a day.
Adding to its social media repertoire, YLPL also has a Flickr account with photos of the library’s events, library cards, and “field trips” where they post photos of other local libraries. This helps to create interest in libraries all over the region, which is a great cooperative promotion for YLPL to take on. While there is not much activity on the Flickr stream, the photos are interesting and act as good promotions of events. However, I do believe that this tool can be marketed to a much greater effect. While the “info” part of their Facebook profile mentions their Flickr account, there are no other mentions of it on their website or Twitter account. Their website at the very least should be a place where patrons can learn about all of the library’s online activity and have the opportunity to participate in what could be a more thriving virtual environment.
Lastly, there is one thing that I find incredibly strange after researching Yorba Linda Public Library’s online endeavors. In looking over YLPL’s YouTube page, I noticed a spam comment and wished to notify them about this comment and that it should be removed. Fearing that a simple comment of my own would go unnoticed, I searched for alternate methods of notifying the library. Searching the website for contact information, I could only find the library’s phone number and address; as far as I can tell, they do not have an email address! How strange that a library would incorporate such new social media tools into their services and lack such an essential means of online communication! If I had to pick one thing that Yorba Linda Public Library could improve about their services, it would be to add a means of direct online communication such as email. Even an IM or chat service would suffice if an YLPL librarian were on the other end.
In conclusion, Yorba Linda Public Library is a great example of how a small city library can use social media tools to great effect. All patrons can benefit from their online services, which present a strong and consistent branding of the library. While the library can vastly improve their services with the addition of email contact information or updating and promoting their Flickr and YouTube accounts more effectively, this library has begun its social media endeavors appropriately and with great value.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
And the most effective facebook page is......
After reviewing the Facebook pages in this week's lesson, I believe the most effective page is that of Hennepin County Library. While the pages of Wellesley College Library and UNC Davis Library were both extremely valuable and shared good information, it seems that a public library strives to serve a much wider demographic and is more susceptible to the pitfalls of Facebook, such as negative commenters or spammers. Wellesley College's page is well-maintained and utilizes many of Facebook's features, such as photos, notes, and an additional page linking to their "AskUs!" service. However, there are not many comments on their wall, and their level of interaction is not as high as in other pages.
UNC Davis Library, on the other hand, does have many people commenting on their wall, and they are very proactive in responding to those comments. In addition to announcements about library events or promotions, there are also notifications about specific things happening in the library, such as warnings about leaving personal information in the library or patrons asking for snack machines. While I think that this aspect of their page gives an interesting look at the details of the library and its patron dynamics, it also makes their page a little more cluttered than that of Wellesley College. Also, UNC does not utilize as many features as Wellesly College.
We were also directed to look at Harvard Law School Library and Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County; however, their links did not work properly, and I was left to search for them, returning the ubiquitously useless community pages that Micheal Fienen tells us about.
Hennepin County Library does a great job with its Facebook page, and is my personal favorite because I work in a public library and know the unique challenges that come with dealing with the public. In fact, the comments on their page seem strangely positive... hmmm...
In any case, there are IM services, catalog searching services, and twitter account links all incorporated into this page, which makes it a sort of one-stop-shop for the library, which is what their Facebook page should ideally be.
Before I go, I'd like to include a brief comment/question to see what my fellow classmates think: Why is MySpace so awful?? Their pages are cluttered, clunky, spamy, and just plain filled with junk. Why bury pieces of valuable information on such a horrible interface when something like Facebook exists?
UNC Davis Library, on the other hand, does have many people commenting on their wall, and they are very proactive in responding to those comments. In addition to announcements about library events or promotions, there are also notifications about specific things happening in the library, such as warnings about leaving personal information in the library or patrons asking for snack machines. While I think that this aspect of their page gives an interesting look at the details of the library and its patron dynamics, it also makes their page a little more cluttered than that of Wellesley College. Also, UNC does not utilize as many features as Wellesly College.
We were also directed to look at Harvard Law School Library and Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County; however, their links did not work properly, and I was left to search for them, returning the ubiquitously useless community pages that Micheal Fienen tells us about.
Hennepin County Library does a great job with its Facebook page, and is my personal favorite because I work in a public library and know the unique challenges that come with dealing with the public. In fact, the comments on their page seem strangely positive... hmmm...
In any case, there are IM services, catalog searching services, and twitter account links all incorporated into this page, which makes it a sort of one-stop-shop for the library, which is what their Facebook page should ideally be.
Before I go, I'd like to include a brief comment/question to see what my fellow classmates think: Why is MySpace so awful?? Their pages are cluttered, clunky, spamy, and just plain filled with junk. Why bury pieces of valuable information on such a horrible interface when something like Facebook exists?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Twitter- maybe not yet...
Twitter seems like a really cool tool that is useful for many things. Obviously, libraries can make short announcements about what's happening in the library and what sorts of new material are available. Twitter can also help libraries create an online community as kelly dallen and "Twittering Libraries" points out. However, I think that this community only goes so far before it gets a little too invasive for today's users. Twitter's usefullness peaks at announcements and tweeting reference questions and their answers. Stepping beyond this involves following others' personal tweets and responding to them, as is recommended by Kelly Dallen. While, yes, it would get libraries and patrons actively involved with each other and allow the library to fulfill information needs in an entirely new and convenient way, it seems more than a little "big-brother-ish" to me. I know that if I personally tweeted about being at my local library or even asking a question about the library, and then have my tweet answered by the library, I would be slightly put-off, and perhaps change my plans about going there. Often, people who go to the library a lot are not seeking much social interaction, and this kind of interaction by the library with personal tweets may put off others as well. In addition, while twitter is very popular, it is not widely used enough to merit massive library incorporation. However, having a web presence is of paramount importance, and the internet is used by just about everyone; thus, a web site would fulfill the need to announce library events without having to establish a twitter account.
Sorry, twitter! Maybe personal information will be ubiquitous enough in the next generation to dispel any creepy feelings from having your library reply to your tweets.
Sorry, twitter! Maybe personal information will be ubiquitous enough in the next generation to dispel any creepy feelings from having your library reply to your tweets.
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