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.

Oh dear, I joined twitter

Well, after over a year of berating Twitter i finally joined it. As any regular readers may have noted i've not really been regular in this field (the blogging field), as of new job, house, girlfriend, starting a chartership etc. But twitter allows for a quick entry, and feels like i'm in the blogosphere (even if i only have 4 friends).

Chartership begins......

I have recently decided to start my Library Chartership, which means more studying and more writing (which means less blogging I assume).

Reading and mooching

I'm a member of the book swapping website Bookmooch and spoken many time about it before (1,2,3). Having virtually read all web 2.0 books, I needed something lighter to read. Therefore it was good news when my 200th book book from bookmooch was Salt. I'd read Cod, and was very impressed.Anyhow, work awaits.

Hollywood Librarian review

Having missed the first screening of the Hollywood librarian, I was not going to miss the first in London. I got there in good time, and was one of 8 people there to see it. I'd seen more people at worst films than this, with friends who will remain nameless.
Well, for those of you who have seen the film, are librarians and enjoy you job (so not annoyed librarian then), you will love it. The film discusses the role very much from an American view point, but thats not a bad thing. It looks into the descruction of Baghdad library, comparing it with the desctruction in Alexandria. It looks at the declining revenues paid into libraries and the impact they have on there communities. It looks at how libraries have been portrayed in film (from Fahrenheit 451 and the time machine, and librararians). But most importantly it looked at how we love our job, and how priviledge we feel to do it. I came away feeling quite elated.
One complaint though. Why not more people there? Why didn't they advertise it in Cilip ? it is London.

An interesting idea for books?

Over on last100, they have an interesting article on Peter Gabriel's website The filter, which is described as:-

The Filter is the ultimate discovery service. Tell it the movie, music and WebVideos that you like and it will find new stuff for you that match your taste – every day.

An interesting idea, which could certainly be extended to books (though everyday might be difficult to do). It would certainly help with serendipitous searching.

The books I have read......

Well, of late I have heavily reading the web 2.0 stuff. I have read Gene Smith's Tagging: People-Powered Metadata for the Social Web. If your interested in folksonomies and librarything, its well worth a read. Code is also included as well. Tim Spalding had discussed the book previously.

Who needs a librarian?

Nice youtube video about the needs for librarian (found via Siva Vaidhyanathan)

Senate House, a fine spring morning

I thought I would try out my new phone, on Senate House, where I work.

British Blogs continued

Jennie Law has started a wiki for British library blogs, so says Phil Bradley.

Boys and toys

I just got myself a new phone. The Sony Ericsson K850i. Unfortunately I was sold on it because my photo's can be sent to my blog and you can tag them too.

RSA event The Future of the Internet: And how to stop it

Jonathan Zittrain, who has recently released his new book The Future of the Internet: And how to stop it, will be discussing his book at the RSA on the 24th of April. Tickets are free. I, like other love free stuff.

London screening of Hollywood librarian

Having spoken previously of the Hollywood Librarian, its nice to see on the 17th of April there will be a screening at Wood Green. I'll be there with my popcorn.

British library blogs

I noted that Jennie Law has an interesting blog entry entitled UK librarian blogs - the list so far. Like it says, it notes all British library based blogs.

A new beginning

I recently went for an interview at a London University library, for a six month contract initially. Having gone, I was not too confident of getting it (having done badly previously or been messed around by agencies). Thankfully, I was informed the same day I had got it. The new role will mean no shelving to. I will also be working on a new Integrated Library System (not Talis. Also, i'll be working on Bliss classification scheme, alongside Dewey. So, I am celebrating, but I am awaiting the contract so perhaps I should keep quite till I start 2 weeks time.
Starting the new job means I will be leaving North Library in Holloway, which is a shame, as the manager has been very good, and some of the users really nice. Anyhow, i'm happy. It means I can start on my chartership.

Nesta, Andrew Keen and Charles Leadbetter

Its been a few weeks since I wrote, so I thought I would briefly talk about the conference I was going to. This was held at the very nice Nesta building in London. Andrew Keen and Charles Leadbetter discussed there very different approaches to the web 2.0 world. Having been to a few of these before I thought Keen may face a rather pro web 2.0 audience. Wow, was I surprised. Leadbetter's view of we think (almost reminiscent of Star Trek's Borg 'we will be assimilated'). Most people felt his idea's were to vague, served little political purpose and was just not a well though out argument. Keen, on the otherhand seemed to have an easier ride (and argue his point better). Keen has the idea we need a hierarchy and used Steve Jobs as a place in point, of an individual and not the group. Well, I like Keen's argument and book, but Jobs created LISA, the impact of Steve Wozniak. I think Keen has been caught in the reality distortion field
.
It was a good conference and Keen offered me the opportunity to interview him for my blog which was nice of him.
BTW, I unfortunately missed Clay Shirky's talk at the RSA called Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations, which is the name of his new book. Anyhow, couldn't go I had work.

Andrew Keen and Charles Leadbeater’s in London

Andrew Keen (writer of Cult of the Amateur) and Charles Leadbeater’s (writer of We-think: The Power of Mass Creativity) are giving a discussion on monday, 3nd of march called Mass Collaboration or Extermination by the masses?. Tickets are free.

Hollywood librarian screening in UK

Well, after a long sabattical from blogging of 2 months (moving house, no time or net work), some news from me. Seems that the Hollywood librarian is playing in Brighton 7pm, the 25th february for its only screening. More information here on Tom Roper's blog. Unfortunately I can make it. Oh well, i'll have to wait for the dvd release.

I have a degree.....

Needing just 50% on my dissertation, I finally discovered I have passed my masters degree. Ok, 53% was not great, but it is a pass. But then, for those who have read this blog my spelling got a real good telling off.....oh well.

The demise of public libraries.....is it happening?

Having worked in public libraries, I have been reconsidering staying within this area. This was underlined via a story by MaintainIT, which pointed to a Boing ,boing story about internet access being filtered and unfiltered in California. In the article RandomReader makes the following comment:-
As a former public library librarian, I can say that unfiltered Internet is simultaneously 1)important for intellectual freedom reasons and 2) a giant pain in the rear end. More broadly speaking, computers are transforming the texture of libraries and attracting new demographic slices that previously had no use for the library. Add to that what Amazon and Half.com have done for allowing book lovers to access books, and the impact of Google on giving people access to basic reference information, and you have even more more upheaval in public library land. Just today I predicted to a colleague that by 2025, the stereotype of public libraries as being about books and a quiet environment will be replaced by something having to do with computers, community programming, and probably the taint of Internet addiction/e-stalking/etc.

I'm in agreement. The days of looking for books are dead. Being an expert on e-mail is soo the vogue. No wonder i'm looking at legal libraries.