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CIL2008--Web 2.0 Services for Smaller, Underfunded Libraries
April 07, 2008 12:03 PM | CIL2008Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian
Web 2.0 Services for Smaller, Underfunded Libraries
20 Steps to Success
Sarah Houghton-Jan, Digital futures Manager, San Jose Public Library, LibrarianinBlack.net
From the program:
"This session is for libraries struggling to provide innovative web services with little resources to devote to staff, software, or hardware. Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 sound great in concept but are seemingly impossible to implement in smaller, pooer, and/or under-technology-staffed libraries. But we too can offer excellent online services to our users! There are dozens of quick and free services that any library can add to its website. This sesion covers 20 easy steps that libraries can take to improve their websites with ease. If your library hasn't yet implemented new technologies on its website but wants to, this is the session for you."
There were a lot of people at this session. That was to be expected; after all, this is the Librarian in Black! Sarah's presentation is already up on her site, complete with slides and links, so I'm not going to provide extensive notes here. I'll just list her 20 steps towards providing innovative web services, regardless of your budget. You can go to the original presentation for the details.
- talk with your customers
- dont pay for images
- offer tools and mashups
- make dynamic lists
- give your library a face
- provide audio content
- provide video content
- exploit the blog as a format
- make rss your bff
- help your catalog
- be present at social netowrks
- use free webhosting
- try a wiki
- use engagedpatrons.org
- use design tools to make your site look cool
- use other free tools
- exploit image generators
- recommend websites easily
- microblog with twitter
- keep everything current
