Week 13: Reflection on Social Software Tools and Best Practices

Reflection on the Semester and Web 2.0

As the end of the semester draws near, it makes sense for us to take pause, reflect over the topics covered and the ideas discussed throughout the semester and to draw some final conclusions about social software in general, in relation to our personal use and opinions, as well as its place and use in a library environment.  

Personal Experience

Before this class, my personal experience with web 2.0 tools and social software had been relatively limited - the 'givens' of the social software world, I would call them.  Tools that most people who use the internet on a regular basis have not been able to avoid without extreme personal conviction and/or aversion to the idea of becoming a part of the online social environment.  Namely, I have been a user of online social networks (Facebook and Myspace), blogs (Blogger) and media sharing (Flickr and Youtube) and have found them all very useful - albeit my use of them had been mainly in a social and entertainment capacity.  

This class has allowed me to not only see that tools such as the ones mentioned above can have valuable uses outside of socialization and entertainment (such as using the information sharing capabilities of all of these tools as facilitators of professional development and information sharing with other professionals in my field  - information management) but has also introduced me to the benefits to be had by using other 2.0 tools I had previously not experimented with.  One such tool, RSS feeds, is one that I will definitely be using in the future.  It also has the potential to serve my entertainment-seeking drives (the feed for the newest lolcats from I Can Has Cheezburger is now on my Google reader - I have no shame there :) and will also be helpful in a more professional capacity - as new blog posts from the world of IM will find their way to my RSS reader as well.  

Social Software for Libraries

Of all of the social software we have looked at throughout the semester, there are a few tools that seem to currently offer the best potential service opportunities for library patrons.  Others, while they could have future potential, may only currently be 'good ideas in theory,' but not quite practical for a library environment.  

Blogs & Blogging -  I think blogs are one of the tools that offer great service opportunities for libraries.  Not only is the technology easy to use (requiring little to no expertise on the part of the library to set one up and implement) but they can be created and maintained for free.  They also provide a good way for patrons to be able to interact with the information provided by the library - they could host upcoming events information and get feedback from patrons, they could post information on new additions to the library collection and solicit patron suggestions for other new books they would like to see in the future - the possibilities are enormous.  Definitely the best feature of the blog is being able to open up the two-way dialogue between patron and librarian in the virtual environment and outside of the physical library. 

RSS - This tool, as we saw demonstrated by a variety of libraries in our class case studies, also has the potential to offer a great variety of service offerings to patrons.  The feeds could be something the library presents on its own website - information of interest to its patrons embedded within the library site itself (e.g. NY Time bestseller list that automatically updates, possibly embedded using a tool like Feed2js).  The library could conversely offer some of its own information as an RSS feed that patrons could subscribe to - library events, new arrivals, etc.  This is definitely a tool that takes minimal effort on behalf of the library staff to incorporate into the library's website and it offers so many potential benefits that every library should consider using RSS in some way if possible. 

Wikis -  I am somewhat torn on the idea of a wiki for use in a library environment.  I think what we saw throughout this semester is that wikis have the potential to be very useful as platforms for information sharing, but that they really would only work in situations where all users have common interests and a desire for sharing the information on the wiki.  I think its best use in a library environment would be as a tool for fellow librarians to share information about libraries, services, best practices, etc.  as wikis take a bit more effort to administer and monitor than a tool such as a blog.  I would definitely put wikis in the category of 'has potential,' but a library that implements a wiki would need to put a significant amount of effort into the development and maintaining of the site in order for it to remain useful. 

Social bookmarking, tagging, and folksonomies - I have lumped these three social software tools together as they all represent similar elements of the 2.0 world, that being giving the user the power to categorize and name content - theoretically so as to make it easier for the user to find information by allowing them to relate to it in a way that makes sense to them.  We saw these tools in action in some of the case studies this semester - mainly with libraries allowing users to tag content in the library catalogues.  I think that these tools are also in the category of 'has potential,' but we also cannot ignore the possibility for such use to actually complicate searching of a library catalog more than it would add functionality. 

Online Social Networks - Many of the arguments for social network accounts for libraries have been to be able to meet certain groups of patrons where they live - mainly the younger patrons.  I would defintely agree that creating a Facebook account for a library is a good idea and I'm of the "why not?" opinion as far as these web 2.0 tools go.  Similar to blogs, they open up lines of communication with the library in the virtual space, away from the physical library, and are often easy to set up and free to maintain. I figure if the tool offers another avenue through which to provide library service to patrons - and patrons will actually use it - then libraries should go ahead and join online social networking sites like Myspace and/or Facebook. 

Gaming & Virtual Words -  It has certainly been proven via various case studies that we read that incorporating the elements of gaming and virtual worlds into a library's service offerings can be successful.  I would have to say that probably the best way for libraries to incorporate these social software tools would be to host game nights at the library - to encourage kids to participate in the library community - and to host anvirtual gaming community for use by these patrons (e.g a gaming blog).  Virtual worlds may be more diffucult to incorporate into a library's service offerings - take Second Life as an example.  Membership requires downloading software and creating an avatar (which could present barriers to patrons who do not have access to a computer that can handle the hardware requirements) there are age limits which would bar patrons under the age of 18 from joining (unless they were to join TeenSecond Life)  and being able to build a virtual library space would require the library to purchase an upgraded membership - something that the budget may not allow.  Of the two options, incorporating gaming into the library's service offerings is probably the more feasible.  Though hosting game nights and gaming blogs may not necessarily be qualified as traditional library service, I think it is merited because it allows the library to support and promote another dimension of the library community and would encourage people to expand into other library services as well.  

Media Sharing - Finally, media sharing is something that I would place in the category of 'why not?' Use of these tools through sites such as Flickr and Youtube is free and they present another way for the library to be involved in the sharing of information in the online environment.  Aside from the basic benefit of information sharing, there are additional functionalities of these media sharing sites that add to the potential benefits to be had - for example, both Youtube and Flickr allow users to comment on videos and photos - making the exchange of media into a conversation.  Also, Youtube channels and Flickr photostreams can be subscribed to through RSS feeds, allowing libraries to embed continuously updating content into their own websites - the possibilities of which are endless (from weekly installments of information literacy training to photostreams of library events, etc.).  I would definitely recommend libraries look into the possbilities offered by media sharing and imcorporate them into their services in a way that will benefit both library and patron. 

Best Practices

Now that I have discussed my opinions on the potential usefulness of the various social software in a library environment, it would be wise to discuss some general best practices.  

1. I think the primary element for a library considering implementation of a web 2.0 tool to keep in mind is the overall goal: that by implmenting the tool they will be offering a service to the patron.  I think it is very easy to get caught up in the technology and functionalities of a new piece of software and forget what its purpose should be. This in turn results in the library spending time and perhaps money on something that does not provide anything useful to the patron.  Basically, just remember the patrons and evaluate a potential web 2.0 tool in relation to the patron's need.
2. Another thing to remember is to also consider whether a patron will find such a tool useful.  The evaluation of a tool may identify a patron need - but the decision to implement a web 2.0 tool may not answer that need if the patron is unlikely to use the tool.  For example, patrons may have need of reader's advisory services outside of the physical library, but implementing reader's advisory services via a tool like Second Life is not likely to be used as much as would a reader's advisory service via a blog or instant messaging software. 
3.  Another best practice would be to keep the target audience in mind.  A library blog with a much more narrow focus - for example a gaming blog for youth patrons - is probably more likely to be used than a general library blog that covers a random assortment of topics.  Because blogs are a social tool, people who have a specific relationship to the topic (e.g. teen gamers) will be more likely to participate than those who have no specific interest or connection to the topic.
4. Be creative and don't be afraid to try something.  When it comes down to it, almost all of the social software tools we looked at this semester are free and relatively painless to implement and use. So, go ahead and try new things - if it doesn't work out it's probably easy to change or simply try something else.
5. Finally, my most important best practice is to simply TRY EVERYTHING.  I think it is the very essence of library service to be able to meet patrons' needs in any way possible so this means that expanding into other environments is a must for library service.  Some may not work out, some may not be quite right for the library, but the important thing is to be able to be secure in the knowledge that every possibilty was explored in the effort to provide the patrons with the best service possible. 

 Conclusions

I have reflected in such a way in a few previous posts, but I think here is the most appropriate place to reiterate my sentiment that I really do believe many of the social software tools we have learned about, experimented with and experienced throughout the semester have a place within the library - as one of the fundamental aspects of library service is to be just that - a service provider to the community that strives in every way possible to be an entry point into the universe of knowledge for each patron.  By extension, this means the library must be present on every front available to provide that service to the patron and, as we have all noted, we live in an increasingly technologically oriented and virtual world where much of the information seeking people do on a regular basis takes place online.  And now, with the advent of what has been deemed 'web 2.0,' the web experience has evolved from a relatively flat 'search and find' experience to a very dynamic relationship where people can not only search for and find information, but can customize how they do so (e.g. RSS feeds, social tagging, folksonomies, etc.) and can become part of dynamic social environments where they can comment on and discuss information and even be the originator and author of information (blogs and wikis, media sharing - photos and videos, etc.) - contributing their own ideas to the world as they see fit. 

Basically, I would have to say that this class has definitely introduced me to some social software tools I had not previously been familiar with and has helped to reinforce my opinion that the evolution of the online environment into a more dynamic and social one represents progress and certainly represent opportunities for libraries in relation to their service delivery.