Readers’ Services on Demand and the Changing Mode of Information Delivery

PAARL Summer Conference29 April- 1 May, 2009Aparri, Cagayan

Alicia C. EsguerraBulacan State University

City of Malolos, Bulacan

Readers’ ServiceThose activities and

operations of a Library that bring staff into

regular direct contact with its users

-American Library Association-

Readers’ ServiceThose activities and

operations of a Library that bring staff into

regular direct contact with its users

-American Library Association-

READERS’ SERVICE

• Circulation & Reserve

• Reference Service• Library Orientation• Library instruction• Current Awareness

Service (CAS)

Everything is centered and done in the library!

READERS’ SERVICE

LIBRARY-CENTERED

STATIC

FACE TO FACE

PHYSICAL

MEDIATED LIMITED

TRADITIONAL

“Libraries provide a lot of services,some of which reach users.However, there are far more people who do not find or receive libraryservices and tools than thosewho do.” Chris Anderson

The problem with the traditional readers’ service:

The problem with the traditional readers’ service:

“the web makes it possible to provide services to small niche of

people” -Michael Habib

The trick is to find ways of reaching to both groups!

• Those who go to the physical library

• …and those who prefer to go to the virtual library.

Panacea to improved library services?

Web 2.0

Web 2.0Conceptualized by Tim O’ Reilly in 2004

Collaborative in natureInteractiveDynamicUsers created the content as much as they consume itA web of multi-sensory communicationUser-centered

Web 2.0 ToolsSocial Bookmarking• The practice of saving bookmarks to a

public website and ‘tagging’ them with key words; it opens new ways of organizing

information and categorizing resources

• It enables users to create subject headings for the object at hand.

• It allows users to add and change not only content (data) but also metadata.

Web 2.0 ToolsSocial BookmarkingExamples:

http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-bookmarking

Web 2.0 ToolsBlogs

A website that gives an individual the power to share news or commentary on anything; reader’s can comment on blog postings.

Web 2.0 ToolsBlogsExamples:

Sample Blog…

Web 2.0 ToolsSocial NetworksExamples:

http://social-networking-websites-review.toptenreviews.com/

Web 2.0 ToolsInstant Messaging (IMs)

Is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text messages

Web 2.0 ToolsInstant Messaging (IMs)

Web 2.0 ToolsWikis

A website anyone can edit with little knowledge of mark-up language; it allows for collaboration and sharing of information

Web 2.0 ToolsWikis

Sample Wiki…

…and our very own PAARL wiki

Web 2.0 ToolsRSS Feeds and Aggregators

A family of formats which allow users to find out about updates to the content of RSS enabled websites without actually having to go and visit the site

Information repackaged by provider or creator to give the user more control over delivery of information

WEB 2.0

Web 2.0 = Library 2.0=

Better Readers’ Service?

“Library 2.0 word cloud” @ www.wordle.net

What is Library 2.0?

“It simply means making your library space (virtual and physical) more interactive, cooperative and driven by community needs. The basic drive is to get people back in the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.” – Sarah Houghton

www.librarianinblack.net

What is Library 2.0?

“It describes a subset of library services designed to meet user needs caused by the direct and peripheral effects of Web 2.0”- Michael Habib

http://etd.ils.unc.edu/dspace/handle/1901/356

LIBRARY 2.0Readers’ Service

Interaction

Dynamic

Collaboration

User- centered

Global

Virtual

Ubiquitous

Expression

24/7

Why the Need for Library 2.0?

Why the Need for Library 2.0?

Because it’s where our users are!

Times are evolving. We need to adapt to change…otherwise, we will only find ourselves to be losing the primary reasons why we exist: our information users!

Conclusion:

It all boils down to this:

Questions?

Thank you very much for listening!