crig forum, august 18 2006€¦ · – bloglines b2evolution – blogger wordpress. wikis • very...

www.lib.monash.edu.au

CRIG Forum, August 18th 2006

Investigation into new technologies

Jenny CaseyReference Librarian


Introduction

Investigation at Monash University LibraryWhy investigate new technologies?What can they help us achieve?Brief overview – RSS/Blogs/WikisWhat are others doing?Reality checkSummaryLinks


Investigation at Monash University Library

RSS/Blogs/WikisLibrary strategic objectivesFeedback from key stakeholdersWhat is being done elsewhere?Make recommendations


Why new technologies?

Library is the one stop shop, information portalHarness the technologies used by the users

Automate information discovery processPush information out to usersRaise profile of library with users


What can they help us achieve?

1. Increased utilization and visibility of resources and services

2. More effective promotion of the Library’s resources and services

3. Improved communication & information delivery

4. Increased awareness and understanding of new technologies


RSS Readers

• Also called Aggregators• Resemble email clients• Stand-alone or web based• Designed to send you feeds • Feeds indicated by

– Bloglines Pluck– FeedDemon Sage (Mozilla add on)– My Yahoo SharpReader– News Gator Google Desktop


Weblogs/Blogs

• Website diary in reverse chronological format.• Usually subject specific.• Editable, commentable, syndicateable,

collaborative• Great for librarian to librarian communication,

news, conference interaction.– Bloglines B2Evolution– Blogger WordPress


Wikis

• Very similar to Blogs, except content (not format) driven.

• Usually subject specific• Editable, commentable, syndicateable,

collaborative• Great for documentation, procedures, reference

manual, training materials.

– Mediawiki– Wikipedia– Seedwiki


Stakeholder feedback

• Wide range of responses:New electronic resources feed**New resources feed**Library News feedReference Manual wikiInternal library blog (Information Digest)**Postgraduate information blog/wikiThird party feeds on web site (from news & broadcasting services, law sites, government sites, journal publishers,)**Library feedback blogResearch blog hosted by library


What are university libraries doing?

• JC surveyed 39 university libraries• 9 have adopted RSS/Blogs/Wikis

• ANU Bond CSU• Curtin Flinders JCU• USQ UWS VUT


Applications

• Library News blog (8)• New Titles feed (6)• Podcasts (1)

UnknownAirPACLibrary News feed, and WAP access to catalogue via mobile phone.

Victoria University of Technology

Item on web site.Info lit classes. Info in FAQ.Some promotion to academics.

UnknownLibrary News blog, New Books feed.

University of Western Sydney

Mainly staff.Promoted to staff info sessions. Staff promoted to faculties.

Blog: WordPressLibrary News Blog -electronic resources news, general announcements, faculty feeds.No new titles list.

University of Southern Queensland.

UnknownUnknownLibrary and Computing News.

James Cook University Library

UnknownUnknownLibrary News, New Books feed.

Flinders University Library

Library staff users.Low key promotion.Info lit classes.

Blogs: B2evolutionWiki: Mediawiki

Blog@YourLibrary (new and trial resources, Library News, information literacy).Podcasts.

Curtin University

UnknownFeedburnerLibrary Blog “YourLibrary@CSU”, New Library Titles.

Charles Sturt University

UnknownUnknownNew titles feed.Bond University

Library staff users.Low key promotion.

Home grown Library News blog, New Books feed

Australian National University

Who and how?PlatformWhatLibrary

University Library snapshot


Examples of Library Blog & Podcasts

• Library Blog @ Curtin University• http://library.curtin.edu.au/blogs/index.php?blo

g=5

• Library Podcasts @ Curtin University• http://library.curtin.edu.au/podcast/index.html


Examples of clear links to RSS

• University of Southern Queensland Library• http://www.usq.edu.au/library/default.asp

• USQ Library blog• http://library.usq.edu.au/wordpress/?page_id=2

10

• Flinders University RSS feeds• http://www.lib.flinders.edu.au/new/feeds/


Examples of clear links to RSS

• University of Western Sydney catalogue • http://library.uws.edu.au/

• UWS Catalogue• http://voyager.uws.edu.au/

• UWS New Books feed• http://library.uws.edu.au/newbooks.phtml

www.lib.monash.edu.au19


Promotion, usage and support

• Low key promotion, mainly to staff, info lit classes, direct to academics

• Library News items• Visible RSS links• Usage - the great unknown• High hits, low usage!• Few support issues


Reality check

• Blogs/WikisSomeone has to be responsible = timeConstant updating to be useful

• RSSUsers still have to subscribe (once)You have to remember to read it!Information overload?Potential systems issues (firewall)


Summary

• Huge amount of interest• Little understanding• Information sessions essential• Easy things first: eg, New titles lists, Library News, in house

Blog• Very few support problems• User base is largely unknown, and generally anecdotal• No one is analysing hits• Feedback has been 100% positive

• Observations:• Visible RSS feeds ↑ awareness and acceptance• Single RSS page with all information


Links

• What is RSS and why should you care? Chris Sherman• http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3530926• Choosing an RSS Reader. Chris Sherman• http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3531486• Exploring the application of RSS for Library Staff Professional Development

and SDI Services. Sandra Jeffries, Corey Wallis.• http://www.valaconf.org/vala2006/papers2006/10_Jeffries_Final.pdf• More About RSS Feeds & Podcasting (SLV)• http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/site/feeds/rss.html• Antioch University New England Library Staff Training and Support Wiki• http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/antioch_university_new_england_library_staf

f_training_and_support_wiki/• University of Saskatchewan electronic journals with an RSS feed• http://library.usask.ca/ejournals/rss_vendors.php

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