Adventures is LIS 768

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The Handheld Library: How Mobile Technology & Location-based Social Media Can Bring Libraries to the User (and Bring Users Back In)

Perception is reality. If the perception is that libraries are no longer essential in this increasing digital world, that is the reality to the person who says it. There are a growing number of people who believe libraries are no longer vital in a world where Google and e-readers rule. However, most people still value the library and believe it is necessary. But perceptions can be a funny thing. According to Online Computer Library Center’s (OCLC) report, Perception of Libraries, 2010, seventy-three percent of those surveyed use Wikipedia as a search engine. However, fifty-one percent of those think libraries are more trustworthy sources than Wikipedia. Eighty-three percent of users believe that a librarian adds value to the search process. And zero percent of respondents have ever used their public library’s website as a starting point for searching (OCLC). Statistics like these lead me to believe that people would love nothing more than to utilize the library services, but it is not always the most convenient method. Even worse, many do not realize what services their library does offer. So what is a library to do?

Libraries need to go to the user. They need to market and advocate directly to those people that are not taking advantage of all the services and programs available in libraries. In that same OCLC report, the statistics on mobile phone and smartphone use are staggering. Smartphone ownership has grown 1,050 percent in five years. Eighty percent of smartphone users use apps (OCLC). In his manifesto written almost twenty years ago, Michael Buckland states that “this close coupling of library development with changes in users’ work-styles requires a new perspective among those responsible for library services” (Buckland). I’m sure that when he wrote this is was not imagining the mobile technology that we have today, but the message still rings true – libraries must evolve with the user. The library is facing two challenges. First, it has to better market its programs and services to current library users in the community. Second, it must reach out to non-users who are not aware of library services or believe that the library has nothing to offer them personally. Given the astounding statistics on smartphone and app use, I want to focus on how libraries can appeal to current and potential users right in the palm of their hand.

Mobile technology is the future. The first step is creating a mobile version of the library website to reach the users where they are. How do we know where they are? One of the technologies that makes these phones so smart is global positioning system, or GPS. It has revolutionized how people communicate over social networking applications and gather information. Searching for information on a mobile phone is much easier when the search engine knows exactly where you are. Most recently, location-based social networking sites such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Google Latitudes have allowed people to “check in” and let the world, or just their friends, know exactly where they are. Many businesses have started using these technologies to reach out to the consumer and libraries should be no exception.

Libraries are embracing technology more than ever and bringing communities together. I am going to discuss how libraries can use mobile technologies and applications utilizing GPS to spread that message and bring more users into the library. These technologies include mobile websites, location-based social networking and hyperlocal media. Within each topic, I will give examples of the most popular applications and examine how aggressively libraries should invest in these communication methods. There are already libraries using these methods and I will give examples of successes and opportunities for improvement. If libraries use this technology to go to the user, I believe they will soon find the users coming to them.

The Handheld Library: How Mobile Technology & Location-Based Social Media Can Bring Libraries to Users (And Users Back In)

My research paper is on how libraries can use mobile technology and hyperlocal applications to market, especially to non-users. So far, I have come across some inspiring examples of libraries that have had success using this technology. Based on the research I have done so far, I have discovered some more topics that fall under this umbrella that I would like to cover, such as privacy concerns, incentives for opting in, and geotagging. Because this is a relatively new technology, there are not many books written on the topic. Most of the information I have found is from journal articles and blogs on the topic. And I am also reading I Live in the Future & Here’s How It Works by Nick Bilton, on recommendation from Michael, to gain some insight on how this technology will be utilized in general. I am attaching a link to my delicious account, which features bookmarks of some of the articles that have been helpful so far. I have tagged these articles, ever so creatively, as researchpaper. The biggest challenge is coming up with ways that libraries can use this technology to draw in non-users. I am still exploring examples and trying to come up with some of my own ideas. Hyperlocal technology still is not being utilized to its fullest extent in libraries and I am interested in learning more about it & contributing to the discussion.

Like many others have mentioned, I’m not usually a fan of group projects. The main reason is the logistics of it all, trying to schedule meetings & collaborate on a finished project. However, this project was easy due to all of the mediums we worked with – Twitter, email, Google Docs, texting & good, old-fashioned meetings in coffee shops. Our first challenge was to determine what exactly transliteracy was & break it down into section that we could discuss. Ultimately, I was interested in focusing on why transliteracy is important to us as future librarians & to each type of library. Any research done on this relatively new topic is found predominantly online, so that is where I did most of my research. I was directed to some interesting articles just by searching #transliteracy on Twitter. I did find that blog posts discussing the topic were more prevalent than scientific research. This was exciting because it feels that even our project can add some insight into the ongoing transliteracy discussion. We each wrote a few paragraphs on the topic we planned to discuss & Noelle was kind enough to post it on a blog that she created just for the project – http://translitpeople.wordpress.com/

Though the idea transliteracy still inspires debate ( What is it? Isn’t it just information literacy?) , there is no arguing that the basic tenets of transliteracy such as interaction & communication across mediums are important to the world of libraries. I learned a lot while working on this group project and some of the topics even overlap with my research paper. I enjoyed working with my group and will absolutely approach group projects with more excitement in the future.

Hi everyone! I’m sure everyone is hard at work on their research papers, but I just thought I’d share this video. I’m currently in Information Policy with Ed Valauskas and he showed this video during a discussion of copyright. Even though it’s two years old, I think it really fits with a lot of the issues we discussed. It was shown at a Sony shareholders meeting, but maybe it should be shown at library conferences as well! Enjoy!

For this assignment, I created the Super Special Library which is a special library that operates within the Finger on the Pulse ad agency. This would be my dream librarian scenario, so that is why I chose this setting. This policy was written by management & directed specifically at the library employees. However, it probably does not vary too much from a social media policy that everyone would follow. I adopted a more casual tone & tried to use some humor to better relate to the employees. As some of the articles that I referenced stated, a harsh & threatening tone may not result in a more social-media aware employee. I gave some guidelines not only on how to represent the company, but also how to be professional & safe online.

Social Media Policy for the Super Special Library

As employees of the Super Special Library here at Finger on the Pulse (FOTP) Advertising agency, you are expected to stay up-to-date on the latest news & trends. You are also responsible for maintaining the internal website & blog. We understand that creating an online presence is invaluable to your success, so we just want to set some guidelines to ensure that you continue to be a smart & savvy employee of this agency.

What is Social Media? For our purposes, these guidelines cover conduct on networking sites (Facebook), microblogging sites (Twitter), blogs (personal & professional), and wikis (Wikipedia).

You represent us. The minute you identify yourself as an employee, your comments can be attributed to FOTP.  Especially when you are blogging or tweeting as a representative. On any public website that the organization hosts, you should always identify yourself as an employee when posting. Be professional at all times & use common sense. If you’re not sure if you should post it, err on the side of caution and don’t. Remember the Red Cross faux pas from a few weeks ago? We don’t want that.

We may not be the CIA, but…You are privy to some top-secret information. Clients we’re pursuing, ideas we’re pitching, profit & loss info, these are just some of the things that we do not want shared online. Any personnel information that you may be aware of is also confidential.

If you don’t have anything nice to say… You know how it ends. We want every employee to feel safe at work & to look forward to spending time here. Management reserves the right to remove posts on internal sites that may be inappropriate in nature. As for your personal sites, we may have to intervene if conflict makes its way into the office. And we know you’re fiercely loyal, but do not engage with negative commenters when representing FOTP. It’s not worth it.

To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question. Sometime face-to-face interaction is a better option in the office. It is difficult to convey a tone through online communication, so the internal blog may not be the best venue for a disagreement. Social networking is great, but we still encourage talking!

Remember that you’re at work. Though every employee is given access to Twitter, Facebook and the like, please keep it work-related while you’re on the clock. You should be utilizing these sites for research & sharing information, not following @justinbieber’s every move. Unless we are pursuing him as a client.

A few things to keep in mind.

• Check privacy settings on your social networking sites. There is always going to be certain information that you do not want shared with everyone. 
• There are no erasers online. Once something is posted online, it is almost impossible to take back and can follow you forever.
• Keep your finger on the pulse! There is an unprecedented amount of information available online. As librarians, the agency depends on you for the most updated (and accurate) information available. Don’t be afraid to tweet, friend, and blog, as long as you are making us proud!

Sources

Should Your Library Have a Social Media Policy?

Best Buy Social Media Policy

Coca-Cola Social Media Principles

For this assignment, I decided to venture outside of Chicago libraryland to follow the Kansas City Public Library (KCPL). My husband was there over the summer and was impressed by the architecture of the parking garage, of all places. It is this architecture that makes Central Branch of the library known throughout the world.

The KCPL was established in 1873 as the Public School Library of Kansas City and was considered a cultural center. It provided an alternative to downtown entertainment options and also educational sources. It was not until 1889 that it was dedicated only to library services. The current library has ten branches throughout the city, with its Central branch being the largest. It moved into the remodeled First Bank building in 2004  and now features a coffee shop, screening room, a rooftop deck and the most current technology. Another popular branch, the Plaza, was rebuilt in 2005 and features an open floorplan & has a strong children’s collection. The library continues to receive grants & donations to maintain collections such as the Black Archives of Mid America and also to renovate the Bluford Branch.

KCPL Plaza Branch

In addition to an informative & easy-to-navigate homepage, the KCPL has an impressive online presence. Kansas City, MO has a population of 459,787 people and is the 35th largest city in America. KCPL states on its website that there were almost 2.4 million visitors to the library last year. I was very impressed with that statistic for an average sized city. KCPL is very active on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr & YouTube. There are very few reviews on Yelp or Google Reviews, however almost all of them are positive. It does seem that the two newly rebuilt libraries attract visitors with the amenities such as a rooftop deck & coffee shop. I believe these features endear the library to the the users and have influenced the online following. Let’s take a look at how KCPL interacts on each social media network.

On Twitter,  KCPL has 4,790 followers. As a frame of reference, Chicago has a population of 2.7 million people, but the Chicago Public Library only has 446 followers. KCPL is definitely doing something right. There are usually 5 or 6 new tweets each day, usually discussing an event at the library or suggesting a book. The library also responds to followers or to users that tweet about the library. In the example below, they responded to a user who retweeted about the mayoral debate at the library. The two new branches of the library seem to host many programs, classes & events which leads to the popularity of the library in general. They really seem to be functioning at community centers, which has led to the online interest as well.

KCPL on Twitter

On Facebook, KCPL has 2,500 “likes”. The FB page seems to feature much of the same information as the Twitter feed, maybe with more photos. One feature of Facebook is that users can like or comment on posts. This feature shows exactly how popular the posts are and also gives people who “like” the KCPL a chance to interact. They also post library events on Facebook and followers are able to RSVP. Unlike Twitter, it can be hard to know about every mention of the library, but KCPL seems to interact well with users who comment.

Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows users to tag photos and share them with anyone. KCPL has its own flickr photostream with over 2,300 photos. The stream features slideshows, event photos and historic photos from the archives. In addition to its own stream, there are hundreds of photographs tagged with ‘kansascitypubliclibrary’ that also show up. The stream is up to date, with the last photo being added just 3 days ago. This is a great way for the library to show what is going on in the community and around the library. One of the slideshows has received over 1,000 views so users must be aware of the collection.

YouTube is a site that allows users to post, view & comment on videos. Of all the social media sites, this is probably where KCPL has the “weakest” presence. There are only 20 videos posted by the library, however there are recent videos of LeVar Burton’s visit to the library and also recommendations from librarians for the winter adult reading program. These short videos have received a few dozen views, but nothing overwhelming. I think the library could benefit from posting videos from events and also linking to those videos on Twitter, where they have the most followers. This may attract more people to these events.

Overall, for a relatively small city library, I am very impressed with the social media interaction of the Kansas City Public Library. There are consistent updates and interaction with users on almost all social networking fronts. This, combined with the architecturally impressive library buildings & state-of-the-art amenities, makes KCPL a model library for those that hope to establish a stronger online presence.

With all of this new technology making access to information easier than ever, we as future librarians should be excited. Right? Well, as exciting as it is, it is also scary. When you can download your own e-books at home and Google pretty much anything, many people don’t see the need for a library. Libraries need to focus more on the role they play as a community center and gathering place than its historic role as just a home for books. Bus stop ads are not enough to advertise library services, especially to those non-users who don’t realize that libraries today are much more technologically-evolved than those of their childhood. Fortunately, with the growing popularity of mobile technology and hyperlocal applications, libraries have the opportunity to reach out to people where they are.

My research paper is going to focus on how libraries can use mobile technology and hyperlocal social media sites to market, especially to non users.  I will also discuss how these technologies can be used to change the perception of the library and put the library on the path to becoming a vital community center that will allow patrons to share stories and participate in programs tailored to their communities. My hope is that one day your homepage on your computer will be that of your public library. Some of the technology I am going to explore is Foursquare, Patch, and  Everyblock. I will give examples of libraries that are successfully utilizing this technology and also ideas for how libraries can use it in the future.

Is your library in your network?

We’ve spent a great deal of time discussing how librarians can use social media site to make their libraries more relevant in an increasingly digital world. The first thing they have to do is re-brand libraries as community centers, not just buildings full of books. One way to do that would be to become an integral part of the users’ networks. Even if users don’t want to borrow a book, they should still want to interact with the library online or visit the building for programs. Easier said than done, right? Well, I think every librarian should take a look at the Pew Research Center study that discusses the groups of users that are either motivated by mobility or stationary media users. There are different categories in each group and it would benefit the library to be familiar with how these users interact with technology in order to serve them better. Creating a Twitter feed or a Facebook page is not necessarily what every library patron wants. There are some that still just want to have access to a dependable Internet connection or a knowledgeable reference librarian. It is imperative that libraries do not leave the precious face-to-face interactions in the past. I think the biggest opportunity for libraries is developing more mobile technologies. Sure, people can access the library website from their phone, but a library app where they can easily search the catalog & put the book on hold would be way more convenient. Some libraries have already tried this technology, but it is not too widespread. Tagging is another way that libraries can involve the user by getting their input on books & other catalog items. It is just another way users can interact with the library that does not involve borrowing a book. Ultimately, libraries need to listen to the user in order to make as many “friends” as possible.

I had received this book as a gift last year and it had somehow fallen to the back of my bookshelf, so I was delighted to find it recently and decided it was perfect for this assignment. Johnson is not a librarian, but became enamored with them while writing her previous book about obituaries. She discovered that some of the most fascinating obituaries she encountered were those of librarians. Though that might sound a little morbid, Johnson’s interests were piqued enough to dive headfirst into the world of librarians. This book documents her journey through libraries of all kinds and her encounters along the way. Overall, the theme is “in tough times, a librarian is a terrible thing to waste” (8).

While reading this book, you really start to realize what a limiting term “librarian” is. Almost every person profiled is a librarian, but every person views his or her responsibilities differently and plays a different role in the community. There are bloggers, (our own Michael Stephens is profiled), Second Lifers and archivists (not exactly librarians, but essential just the same). However different, every librarian recognizes the important role he or she plays in the community and that they must continue to work hard to prove their vitality in society.

This guy would not cut it as a librarian today.

One of the more interesting characters she introduces us to is Wayne Hay, the head of IT at Chappaqua Library in Westchester. Though he is an information professional himself, he has strong opinions about librarians. “Just because librarians like to search for author, title, subject the way they used to in the old card catalog doesn’t mean the general public does that anymore. The card catalog is dead, people. Move on.” This does sound harsh to be sure, but he’s right. The most successful libraries are the ones that listen to the user and adapt to their needs. Hay’s point was that librarians are important, but only when they act in the best interest of the user.

It was heart-wrenching to read of the New York Public librarians such as David Smith and John Lundquist. Smith recognized the unique plight of the writers that researched at NYPL’s main branch and made it his mission to offer them assistance and highlight their works. He was offered a retirement package in 2009. Lundquist was once the head of the Asian and Middle Eastern Division, which is now being taken over by the circulating collection that is making its way to the research library. He is concerned that the entire collection will one day be forgotten. But it is not all bad at the NYPL. They recently hired a Director of Digital Strategy and Scholarship to work with digitizing the collection and organizing it in a way that tells a story.

As a future librarian it was unsettling to read some of these stories, but overall left me feeling inspired and energized to start my journey in Libraryland. There are so many ways you can use your own personal experiences and expertise to make a difference. We are only held back by perceptions of librarians. But we have to break free from those long-held stereotypes. The shushing, rule-enforcing, behind-the-desk librarian will not survive. We must shout from the rooftops that librarians, not books or computers, are essential to a thoughtful and engaged community library.