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Wikis and BlogsMore than cool toys –

essential tools for librariesPORTALS Continuing Education May 11, 2007

Presenters

• Kitty Mackey & Zachary Grant, Reference & Instruction Librarians– kmackey@clark.edu– zgrant@clark.edu

• Pavel Popov, IT Specialist– ppopov@clark.edu

• Cannell Library, Clark College, Vancouver WA

OVERVIEW

• Today’s session– surveymonkey results

• Participants will be familiar with:– “best practices”– setting outcomes for wikis and blogs– Options for hosting wikis/blogs

The Right Tool?

• This presentation– Wiki? Wrong tool.

• Play, Play Play– Why not? They’re free!

• Time to get serious? Start with outcomes.

Outcomes-Based Approach• Outcomes

– What do you want to do?

• Indicators/Activities– What will be happening/day-to-day ?

• Assessments/Performance Criteria– How will you gather your data or evidence?

• Timeline– How often will you gather/analyze assessments?

Examples of Outcomes

• I/we/my library need/s a tool to:– promote digital citizenship– share daily messages with users– encourage learning through reflection & feedback– collaborate with colleagues – what else?

WIKI? BLOG?

• Quote from Wikipedia: Bliki • Similarities and Differences

BLOGS

Blogs Close to Home

• to interact with faculty, students, patrons– Cannell Reference Librarians Blog

• (The first: cannellref.blogspot.com)

– Cannell Library: The Blog

• as classroom tools– libr105.blogspot.com

• The Big Kahuna List:– Blogging Libraries Wiki

BLOGS

• Best practices – Do they exist?

• Remember: “Semper Gumby” – Be flexible

DO YOU NEED A BLOG?• Who is your audience?

• What is your key message?

• What is the purpose of your blog?

From: Why and How to Use Blogs to Promote Your Library's Services by Darlene Fichter (2003)

CREATE A BLOG POLICY

• Privacy• Posts (Daily posts)• Comments• Images and User levels• Training• Maintenance Activity

BLOG CONTENT• What to blog about? Some examples are:

– New services– New material– Activities at/or associated with your library– News items related to your library

• Be informative and have fun

BLOG TAGS• What are they and why use them?• Standardization of tag names? Examples:

– New books– Databases– Genealogy– All

PRIVACY ISSUES in BLOGS

• Academic libraries – FERPA• Public libraries – Patron records• How are users going to comment?

– Use of real names or anonymous postings?– Are you going to monitor comments?– Are you going to require a log in for comments?

RSS FEEDS – USE THEM!

• What kind?– RSS 1– RSS 2– Atom

• Make sure your RSS feed sends complete text

BLOG ASSESSMENT

• Free blogging services– FeedBurner

• Fee services and self hosting– Built in RSS feed tracking– Monitor hits on web page

• For both – use the comments left by users• Are you going to assess anonymous posts?

12 Important US Laws Every Blogger Needs to Know

• Disclose paid posts• Deep linking• Images and thumbnails• Copyright laws• Domain name trademark• Private data about your

readers

From: DirectoryAvivahttp://www.avivadirectory.com/blogger-law/

• Who owns user developed content - can you delete it?

• Monitor blog comments and liability

• Tax laws if you use your blog for revenue

• Limited liability laws• Spam laws• Journalism shield laws

TIME TO PLAY

• Compare Blog Features: Weblog Matrix• Wordpress: www.wordpress.com

BLOG HOSTING OPTIONS

Blog Hosting Options:Free web-based engines

• Examples– Wordpress www.wordpress.com– Blogger https://www.blogger.com/start– Livejournal http://www.livejournal.com

• Advantages– Free– All basic features available– Minimal technical expertise required– No maintenance required

Blog Hosting Options:Free web-based engines

• Disadvantages/Limitations– Strange domain name (all accounts appended with

wordpress.com)– Limited control and functionality– No file editing except for CSS styles– Limited number of themes (can only use preinstalled)– Limited space (more space available at additional cost)– No plug-ins– Possible disruptions during upgrades/moves/buyouts

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Requirements– Webserver (webspace)– Serverside software (php, MySQL)– Basic technical knowledge

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Disadvantages– Costs (dreamhost is about $10/mo)– Technical expertise– Software upgrades

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Advantages– More control and flexibility– Your own domain name (school/institution

domain)– No risk of being closed down

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Demo (hosting on dreamhost)

– Dreamhost (paid account http://www.dreamhost.com/hosting.html)

– Dreamhost management panel (https://panel.dreamhost.com/)

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Demo (hosting on dreamhost)– Download files (http://wordpress.org/download/)– Unzip files (winzip)– Create MySQL database (dreamhost panel)– Verify database in phpMyAdmin– Modify wp_config.php file– Upload files to the server (FTP client)– Run /wp-admin/install.php script– Your blog is ready to go!

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Demo (hosting on dreamhost)New theme installation:– Download files http://

codex.wordpress.org/Theme_List/Three_Column (3cProfessional)

– Unzip files– Upload files to the server (wp-content/themes)– Enable new theme– Display author’s name

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Demo (hosting on dreamhost)Wordpress Documentation– Installation -

http://codex.wordpress.org/Getting_Started_with_WordPress#Installation

– Upgrading - http://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress

WRAP UP: Tips for Success• Buy-in from colleagues• Levels of participation• Policies:

– Comments (none, registered, anonymous)

• Policy/Style Guide– Content– Who will monitor?

• Staff training

BREAK(and the lucky winner is…)

WIKIS

WIKIS: EXAMPLES• Collaboration

– Cannell Library Internal Documentation

• Classroom– womenrock.pbwiki.com (free wiki host)

• Information– PCC Procedures & Guidelines

• Collaborative/Projects– i-smart (premium “gold” wiki)

WIKIS: “Best Practices”

• Wiki Works: Using Wikis in Libraries• Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki

– About Library Success – … from Wikimania 2007

• LIS Wiki• Let 100 Wikis Bloom?

COMMON WIKI FEATURES

• Following pages: – Typical functions shown with arrows– Typical formatting features– Funny wiki syntax or WYSIWYG?

COMMON WIKI FEATURES

• Your Subtopics Go Here

Sample page fromDOKUWIKI

Sample page fromDOKUWIKI

Sample page fromDOKUWIKI

(“funny” syntax)

Sample page fromPBWIKI

(WYSIWYG)

Sample page from“funny” syntax

A Wiki of Your Own?

• Who will host your wiki? – Comparison of Wiki Farms– Wiki Science: How to Start a Wiki– Wikimatrix

Time to Play!

CAUTION: CHAOS AHEAD• Using Style Guides, but…• Letting go control?

– http://pbwiki.com/permsfaq.php (premium)– Acceptable use policy:

http://libr105.pbwiki.com/admin.php?jt=aup– Public or private?

http://libr105.pbwiki.com/admin.php?rnd=4&jt=visibility

• Backing up!• Keeping vigil

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Requirements– Similar to Blogs

• Advantages– Similar to Blogs

• Disadvantages– Similar to Blogs

Beyond Free Hosting Options: Outside Paid | Local Server

• Demo (hosting on dreamhost)– Dokuwiki (http://wiki.splitbrain.org/wiki:dokuwiki)– Download files (http://www.splitbrain.org/projects/dokuwiki)– Unzip files– Create new location/folder on the server– Upload files to the server (FTP client)– Run install.php script– While at install.php select private/closed mode– Disable anonymous registration (modify local.php file)– Delete install.php file– Your wiki system is ready to go!– Documentation available (http://wiki.splitbrain.org/wiki%3AInstall)

BEYOND?

• What’s next?– Blog + Wiki = Bliki?

• What will you take back? – Visit Cannell Library: The Blog and let us know.

Thank You!

PowerPoint slides, links to websites, and handouts are available at:

http://www.clark.edu/Library/Powerpoint/portals_wikis_blogs.ppt