Module 4 - Comparison OLJ

I looked at the use of Social Media with Hobsons Bay Libraries, Mount Gambier Public Library, and Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service.  All make use of Social Media in a number of ways, and have been using for differing lengths of time.

Promotion of events: This is something that all three libraries do, and appear to do reasonably well. .  The use of Facebook and Twitter is popular with the three library services as a way to promote events. This is achieved by using promotional materials (copies of posters, links to library website), as well as posting photos of past events as a way of showing the community what they offer.

Service announcements: Using social media for service announcements can assist in getting important messages out to the community. As an example the Mount Gambier Library (2012) used their Facebook page to advise changes to opening times. Hobsons Bay Libraries (2012) are also using their Facebook page to notify the community of service changes, such as the closing of the temporary Williamstown branch in preparation for moving to the new building.

  

Recommended reads: Social media is a fun way of sharing recommended reads and other readers advisory with the library community.  Yarra Plenty library service (2010) do this through their website by providing the facility for  people to comment on, rate or tag items.  The Mount Gambier Library (nd) makes use of a blog to provide genre base recommended reads from library staff.

Library videos: Having an online video tour of your library (branches) is a nice way to introduce users to your library service.  Hobsons Bay (2012b) has their own YouTube channel which hosts an online tour of each of their five branches as well as.  There is a link to YouTube from the libraries website, providing ease of access to the channel. Hobsons Bay has also added an instructional video for reserving items providing verbal and visual instructions.

Ease of access: Yarra Plenty Regional Library (2010) uses a QR code to take people directly to download their app for either iPhone or Android. The use of QR codes allows the user to easily be able to access information, and this could be used in a number of different ways, such as event bookings.

Reference List

Hobsons Bay Libraries. (2012). Hobsons Bay Libraries. Facebook. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/HobsonsBayLibraries

Hobsons Bay Libraries. (2012). Hobsons Bay Libraries. YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/user/hobsonsbaylibraries?feature=results_main

Mount Gambier Library. (2012). The Mount Gambier Library.Facebook. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mount-Gambier-Library/137817538356

Mount Gambier Library. (nd). See what’s on our shelves. RRB: Recommended reading blog. Retrieved from http://rrb-mglibrary.blogspot.com.au/

Yarra Plenty Regional Library. (2010). Homepage. Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Retrieved from http://yprl.vic.gov.au

Module 3 OLJ

Module 3 OLJ Task

Read the post A to Z of Social Networking for libraries (22^nd January, 2010) on the Social Networking for Libraries blog.

Consider this advice in terms of a library and information agency that you know (as an employee or user). Select advice from five (5) letters of this A – Z list and consider how these may be applied to this library to help it embrace a library 2.0 ethos.  Write up your findings as a post (of no more than 350 words in your OLJ).

Patrons have often enquired about receiving text message notification particularly for when reserved items arrive.  Currently an email service is provided. Skokie Public Library (2012) provide a text message service to notify customers of items ready for collection, overdue notices and also courtesy notices for items due soon, there is also the ability to renew items via text message. 

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Podcasting has been identified as a great way to share library events and tips with the community (Social Networking Librarian, 2010).  Denver Public Library (2010-2011) service provides a number of different types of podcasts, including stories, interviews, and poetry. The implementation of podcasts may help to provide greater access to library programs and events for the community,  they provide the ability for those who are unable to attend a program or event in person to still benefit. 

           

Social Networking Librarian (2010) identifies the use of videos as a way to engage with the community. The State Library of New South Wales (2008) has videos of some of their talks done by guest speakers and staff. Hobsons Bay Libraries (2012) recently developed its own YouTube channel and started by adding virtual tours of the five branches as well as  instructional videos, and some local history videos. This is a good start, other possible videos include Children’s Story times, Rhyme time, author talks and other presentations for YouTube.  With a staff member who is fluent in Auslan there is also the potential to create or translate videos in to Auslan to increase accessibility.

Hobsons Bay Libraries currently subscribes to some Readers Advisory databases which can help people find books to read.  Good Reads (2012) provides an opportunity for staff and the community to interact and share what they like to read.  It provides accessible discussion for people who are unable to get into the library, or who cannot commit to a formal book group.

Ustream (2012) is a program that allows live streaming, A to Z social media  networking for libraries (Social Networking Librarian, 2010) identifies this as a way to broadcast live to community.  This could be used to broadcast programs such as story times out to kindergartens and playgroups, or used by families that aren’t able to get out easily.  Sold out author talks could be streamed to allow those who could not book to still hear and see the presentation.  This is another way to get the library out into the community.

Reference List

Denver Public Library (2010-2011). Podcasts from the Denver Public LIbrary. Retrieved from                Denver Public Library http://podcast.denverlibrary.org/webpage/category/Interviews

Good Reads. (2012). Good Reads. Retrieved from Good Reads website http://www.goodreads.com/

Hobsons Bay Libraries. (2012). Hobsons Bay Libraries. Retrieved from Hobsons Bay Libraries YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/hobsonsbaylibraries?feature=results_main.

Skokie Public Library. (2012). Text messages. Retrieved from Skokie Public Library Service http://www.skokie.lib.il.us/s_about/mobile_services.asp#alerts

Social Networking Librarian. (January 22, 2010). A to Z of Social Networking for Libraries. 

          Retrieved from Exploring Social Networking and Technologies in Libraries 

          http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/2010/01/22/a-to-z-of-social-networking-for-libraries/

State Library of New South Wales. (2008). Events & Talks podcast. Retrieved from State

          Library New South Wales http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/podcasts/events/index.html.

Ustream. (2012). Ustream. Retrieved from Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/

Module 2 - RSS Feeds

Hart (nd) identifies a bonus of RSS feeds for users, is that the information is delivered directly to them as an update happens, this saves users time in needing to search websites regularly themselves to see if information has been updated, which allows users to easily be kept up to date with the latest information, as well as this users also have the opportunity to subscribe and unsubscribe to feeds as they wish. Hart (nd) also identifies some benefits for organisations who provide RSS feeds for their users, this may include an increase in traffic to websites, and the ability to automatically send information to subscribers when there is an update. 

There are a number of different types of libraries currently using RSS Feeds, these include Public Libraries, University Libraries, State Libraries and Academic Libraries as examples.  RSS Feeds provide a great tool for libraries to be able to promote their services and collections to their users.  The Moxie Librarian (2008) in their Blog post titles 10 ways libraries can use RSS identifies some ways that libraries may consider using RSS feeds, including creating feeds to advertise job vacancies, or one for library closures which could also cover emergency closures, and a feed for the e-newsletter.

 

There are so many opportunities for libraries to use RSS feeds other than those identified above.  For example the University of Sydney allows users to subscribe to an RSS feed of ‘My Loans’.  This RSS feed allows subscribers to be notified when items are due, if items have been recalled or are ready to be collected (not for Inter – Library Loans) and even if there is a new fine on the cards or an upcoming library lesson (University of Sydney, 2012).  This is a great service to be able to provide for users, it allows them easy access to their account details at a glance without having to log in just to check.

 

Another example the Moxie Librarian (2008) identified was to have an RSS feed for promoting events and programs at the library.  This is something that a number of libraries are doing.  Monash Public Library  service in Victoria currently have RSS feeds for upcoming events and programs at their library, and they also have one for new podcasts.  This is a great idea to give users easy access to information on upcoming events, and programs.  The use of podcasts allows people who may not have been able to attend an event or program the ability to still access the content of the event.

 

These types of RSS feeds provide a great opportunity for people to easily access up to date information about the library service without having to actively search for it.

Reference List

 

Hart, L. G. (n.d.). Library 2.0: RSS Feeds Dynamic Uses for Special Libraries. Retrieved from http://www.sla.org/pdfs/sla2007/hartrssfeeds.pdf

 

Monash Public Library Service. (2012). RSS Information. In Monash Public Library. Retrieved from http://www.monlib.vic.gov.au/rss/aboutrss.html

Moxie Librarian. (2008). 10 ways libraries can use RSS. In The Moxie Librarian. Retrieved from  http://moxielibrarian.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/10-ways-libraries-can-use-rss/

University of Sydney. (2012). RSS Feeds. In Library. Retrieved from http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/about/rss.html