10 Technology Ideas Your Library Can Implement Next Week | American Libraries Magazine
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Hey Library Technology Fans... you have to check out this article from American Libraries, ALA's publication. It's right up our alley!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Libraries Reaching Out
Our world is changing, and technology has a lot to do with it. From the comfort of our home we can buy our groceries, trade stock, manage our finances and check on Johnny’s grades. Libraries have long been the place we go to with our questions, to find a good book to curl up with, or take our little one to hear a good story. Increasingly, libraries are harnessing the power of technology to bring their library services to us. Although we may still want to visit the library in person, because of the advances of technology, we can now use many of the library’s services without ever setting foot within its physical walls.
Many libraries are allowing users to apply for library cards online. San Francisco Public Library is a great example. They have set up a simple online library application that can be accessed on their website. This allows users who may have a hard time getting to the library the ability to access the library’s services from home. Almost all libraries now have websites that include their calendar of events, the online public access catalog, as well as links to frequently asked questions. A good example is the Riverside County Library System. From this website you can access each individual branch, view their calendars, as well as reserve spots for specific events. A user can also use the online catalog to search for materials and resources, place holds, manage checkouts and renewals and access the library’s free databases. Allowing patrons to access these resources online enhances the usage because the patron is able to choose the best time for them.
Another really exciting advancement that many libraries are embracing is live online reference chat. This is an online chat session that allows users to ask questions, get help with research or the library’s other online services. It is usually staffed by a reference librarian and some are available 24/7. Some libraries, such as Palomar College’s Library share the online reference slots with a consortium of libraries so that the workload is shared. This is a great service that benefits both parties involved. The patron gets help even when the library is closed, at a time that is convenient for them, while the library benefits from increasing its service hours and access, and at the same time reducing the in-person foot traffic, thus reducing staff hours and overall cost.
Technology is bringing the library to the patron, and changing the way we view the library and its services. It is no longer just a building with four walls, but an online resource that meets us wherever we are.
Many libraries are allowing users to apply for library cards online. San Francisco Public Library is a great example. They have set up a simple online library application that can be accessed on their website. This allows users who may have a hard time getting to the library the ability to access the library’s services from home. Almost all libraries now have websites that include their calendar of events, the online public access catalog, as well as links to frequently asked questions. A good example is the Riverside County Library System. From this website you can access each individual branch, view their calendars, as well as reserve spots for specific events. A user can also use the online catalog to search for materials and resources, place holds, manage checkouts and renewals and access the library’s free databases. Allowing patrons to access these resources online enhances the usage because the patron is able to choose the best time for them.
Another really exciting advancement that many libraries are embracing is live online reference chat. This is an online chat session that allows users to ask questions, get help with research or the library’s other online services. It is usually staffed by a reference librarian and some are available 24/7. Some libraries, such as Palomar College’s Library share the online reference slots with a consortium of libraries so that the workload is shared. This is a great service that benefits both parties involved. The patron gets help even when the library is closed, at a time that is convenient for them, while the library benefits from increasing its service hours and access, and at the same time reducing the in-person foot traffic, thus reducing staff hours and overall cost.
Technology is bringing the library to the patron, and changing the way we view the library and its services. It is no longer just a building with four walls, but an online resource that meets us wherever we are.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The armchair library patron
For those of us born into a world where technology consisted of manual typewriters, carbon paper, and rotary phones, technology has changed every aspect of our lives and how we live. Some changes have been gradual and some not, but in retrospect none are more amazing than the changes in our local library and how the library delivers information and how we access library information and services. Once upon a time a visit to the library entailed a manual search through the card catalogue and then, checking out the allowed allotment of books with hand stamped due dates. As the years passed a radical new section that contained movies on VHS appeared and somehow the card catalogue disappeared. Today a library can exist as a virtual entity. It used to be that one could be an "armchair traveler"; today one can be an armchair library patron.
Unless an individual wishes to walk in and check out a title or enjoy the community of an event, a library can exist for a patron as a virtual entity. Libraries have online catalogues as well as 24/7 reference services through an email enabled feature called "Ask-a-Librarian", as well as web access to the library's data bases. Many libraries have a large selection of e-books available to download. Inter-library loans are possible with a click of a mouse and book clubs can be enjoyed through a blog format. Technology has made library resources as available and as close as your computer and as fast to receive as your Internet connection.
Unless an individual wishes to walk in and check out a title or enjoy the community of an event, a library can exist for a patron as a virtual entity. Libraries have online catalogues as well as 24/7 reference services through an email enabled feature called "Ask-a-Librarian", as well as web access to the library's data bases. Many libraries have a large selection of e-books available to download. Inter-library loans are possible with a click of a mouse and book clubs can be enjoyed through a blog format. Technology has made library resources as available and as close as your computer and as fast to receive as your Internet connection.
Let's Get Tweeting
Social media tools, like Twitter, Facebook, Delicious, and Digg, are hugely popular, especially with young people. I think it’s vital for libraries to capitalize on this popularity to increase library usage and awareness. This kind of publicity works especially well for events like concerts, appearances by authors or other popular speakers, and reading programs. These events are designed to increase the visibility of the library and its patronage. Once inside the library, folks can see all the services available and they might even start reading something!
Some library administrations may have been slow to utilize these tools, having the opinion that they are fads or that only the young people are using them. That’s no longer true. The fact is that, although MySpace seems to be on the decline, Facebook and Twitter usage continues to grow by leaps and bounds. More and more businesses are now seeing the benefit of being connected in this way. Companies like Home Depot and GM have Twitter accounts to increase their visibility, and they wouldn’t be doing it if it weren’t good for their bottom line!
A major difficulty that libraries may have with social media tools, however, is that staff members may not be sufficiently familiar with them to utilize them effectively. Although I am very computer literate, I personally have been quite reluctant to get onto Twitter or Facebook and, therefore, slow to see their possibilities. Fortunately, there are resources available to digital immigrants like me (and you thought I knew what I was talking about!) for navigating this landscape. SearchEngineWatch.com is a web marketing research company that assists its members in maximizing their exposure on the web. Their web page SearchEngineWatch.com/SocialMediaMarketing is a great place to start. I’m going to check out their Social Media Marketing 101 page and Twitter 101. I’ll post more after I learn what it’s all about.
Some library administrations may have been slow to utilize these tools, having the opinion that they are fads or that only the young people are using them. That’s no longer true. The fact is that, although MySpace seems to be on the decline, Facebook and Twitter usage continues to grow by leaps and bounds. More and more businesses are now seeing the benefit of being connected in this way. Companies like Home Depot and GM have Twitter accounts to increase their visibility, and they wouldn’t be doing it if it weren’t good for their bottom line!
A major difficulty that libraries may have with social media tools, however, is that staff members may not be sufficiently familiar with them to utilize them effectively. Although I am very computer literate, I personally have been quite reluctant to get onto Twitter or Facebook and, therefore, slow to see their possibilities. Fortunately, there are resources available to digital immigrants like me (and you thought I knew what I was talking about!) for navigating this landscape. SearchEngineWatch.com is a web marketing research company that assists its members in maximizing their exposure on the web. Their web page SearchEngineWatch.com/SocialMediaMarketing is a great place to start. I’m going to check out their Social Media Marketing 101 page and Twitter 101. I’ll post more after I learn what it’s all about.
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