best practices

I'm not sure if waiting so long to do my last blog post had more to do with the insane amount of work I've had to do this week, or the fact that I knew this would be my last post... Hard to say... sniff, I'll have to think on it. That being said I have really enjoyed the course and want to thank Amanda and all of you for your excellent comments all semester, I found myself looking forward to checking my replies every week.

This course has provided a great overview of social software in all its forms and especially on how it can benefit libraries and help them to build their online presence in the community.  Social software is free and easy to use and there's a lot of potential out there for libraries as they gradually develop more advanced social software based services. While I had used social software such as blogs, RSS, and YouTube before starting the course, now I have a much better idea of the potential uses and pitfalls.

Best Practices:

I’ve listed some of these before, but for the record, here are my best practice suggestions. Some of them will apply to all social software, others to one specific type.

Before you start that blog, Wiki, or other Web 2.0 project, you may want to consider and answer the following questions. By following these steps your Web 2.0 project is more likely to be a success.

Over the term we have examined many different kinds of social software that has been utilized in the library. What I will examine in my blog this week are the best practices to use when thinking of implementing this technology into the library.

Knowing Your Audience

Here, at long last are some of my thoughts on best practices for social software in libraries.

Best Practices 

Best practices for social software in a library starts with trying.

While it is important to upkeep the staple web elements (web site, online catalogue search, etc.) other important and exciting web applications should be explored.

These tools can be equally, if not more, helpful and interesting for users to learn about your institution.

1. Start with a need:

What is your library lacking online? Where can you improve your web presence?  What is your intention with the web? Once these questions have been answered;

After learning about all the tools in this course I would have to say that some tools would probably work better in a library than others. There are some tools that would probably be easy to implement without major disturbances. In mind would be rss, gaming, and blogs.

I think that each of these tools could easily complement a library OPAC and website. Rss feeds could easily be set up to notify patrons of new titles and events at the library, as Ottawa Public Library currently does. A feed could be set up to customize the types of material to be notified about.

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