Monday, May 12, 2008

Web 2.0 idea's to be put forward

I'm hoping to get some feedback on this, so here is a blog where I would appreciate some feedback. I was recently asked to go a work meeting along with a few others about some web 2.0 the library could introduce. I've come up with the 11 below. But does anyone else have any idea what could be added?

Idea 1.

YOUTUBE used as a learning tool. An example of this can be seen in this link, in which users are shown how to use a self issue system.
Youtube video’s would assist library users, as many don't always use the training schemes either because of time or space (for example part-time students or live outside London respectively). Therefore, they do not know how to use the catalogue, bliss, periodicals. Youtube can answer this by hosting 15 minute videos on these areas. These could be embedded on the website.

They could also be used as training tools (Bliss training especially).

Idea 2.

BLOG used as a news tool. To inform patrons of upcoming events, new exhibitions, new sources added. Advantages are immediacy of the newsletter. There is also already a blog used in senate house (I think its bib service, but I need to check that). RSS. could be used to update patrons of all news immediately. Feedback of what THEY want.

PROBLEMS :- Comments. If you close them off it kills off the conversation with the user. Defamation and threats can be used on blog comments.

Idea. 3

FLICKR (an image/video hosting website, web services). Use photos of the library. What floor houses what (5th floor English etc). What our photo copy cards look like.
Could be used to indicate new staff etc. People will now other staff names. Flickr catalogue could use

Problems:-
New staff may not want open access to there photo's.
Web 2.0 problems. Once information is put up it is no longer under YOUR ownership. People will use (and on occasions) abuse it.

Idea .4

An instant messaging service for each department. Most users are connected and use IM. Therefore a resource that will already appeal to them and cost nothing.

Idea 5

Text messaging fines to user, rather than email. Most students have a mobile. Many complaints have been made about emails entering junk filters or incorrect email addresses. Millennium has this resource to text clients immediately.

Idea 6.

A section about the advantages and disadvantages of web 2.0/ the read write web/ social media.
For example how some students in Canada used facebook as a research tool and received no marks from there examiners as it was seen as plagiarism. How wikipedia is not a totally good resource tool (and some USA colleges will not accept it as a legitimate place to quote. The use of Google scholar, connotea, citeulike, delicious. Teach the user how he/she can improve there research. The idea here is to educate rather than preach to the end user.

Idea.7
Allowing users to access there own records. Many users never remember what they borrowed and are unable to know on there records (neither are we). The user should be able to enter a password to get this.

Idea.8

A facebook page. Can be updated with events etc. Most popular social media site and used by patrons.

Idea.9

Tagging ‘A tag is a (relevant) keyword or term associated with or assigned to a piece of information (a picture, a geographic map, a blog entry, a video clip etc.), thus describing the item and enabling keyword-based classification and search of information.’

An example would be to use librarything , which tags books and shows similar items to the book someone might need. This would assist in serendipitous searching.

Idea.10

Podcasts
To be used for blind user for instructions on the system. Podcast could be used for presentations given by the university or used for training. The problem with podcasts is that popular ones would mean bandwidth being taken from the system and requires more bandwidth to be paid for.

idea 11

A Twitter account so people could see any new news etc.


thanks all.

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