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10 Lol Cat Laws Of Web Services For Smaller Underfunded Libraries

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Sarah Houghton
Sarah Houghton

A presentation on web services for small and underfunded libraries (isn't that all of us?) for Computers in Libraries 2009.

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The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller and Underfunded Libraries Sarah Houghton-Jan Digital Futures Manager, San Jose Public Library Author, LibrarianInBlack.net
LOL...whatsie? #1: LOLcats are photos, of cats usually, with funny, gramatically incorrect captions #2: The captions often play on memes and “in-jokes” previously generated by other LOLcat photos #3: They spout all sorts of wisdom.
LOLcat
The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller & Underfunded Libraries
 
#1: Talk with customers Email Instant messaging (AIM, Meebo, Plugoo)‏ Chat Widgets (IM or web-based chat window on webpages)‏ Voice Over IP (VOIP like Skype and other services)‏ Video Chat (some IM clients, Skype too!)‏ Text messaging (SMS)‏
UNLV's IM Service
Put chat windows and “assistance” links where customers are UPSET Screenshot courtesy of David Lee King, Topeka Shawnee County Public Library
 
Text Messaging (SMS)‏ Cell phones and SMS are now more popular than ever Offer both circulation and reference services via SMS ($)‏ “ For pay” (rather cheap) and hack options (which have security and feature issues)‏
Reference Service via SMS
 
#2: Interact with Customers Welcome comments on everything Respond like a human being Example: offer Online Book Clubs with a mix of staff and customers
San Jose Public Library's Teen Book Club on LibraryThing
Blogs for Recommendations Blogs (each entry is its own review) -or- Wikis (subject/age based pages w/ reviews)‏ Encourage full staff participation Offer a template w/ tags and categories Welcome customer comments and entries
 
 
 
#5: Be Engaged Use EngagedPatrons.org (free and low-cost Web 2.0 services for libraries run by Glenn Peterson of Hennepin County Lib.)‏ Events Calendar with online registration Blogs Google Maps mashup for library locations Library contact form RSS feeds + other stuff too!
 
 
 
#3: Be Social Be present where your users are Be real Be reliable and continuously new
 
 
$10 = 5000 Facebook Flyers to targeted audiences Facebook Flyer image by Steve Lawson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary/1546577200 CHEAP ADVERTISING!!!
 
#4: Use Multimedia Photographs / Images Podcasts Videocasts Games
Westmont Public Library http://www.flickr.com/photos/westmontlibrary/549380055/
 
Exploit Image Generators GeneratorBlog.blogspot.com ImageGenerator.org ImageChef.com
Podcasting & Videocasting people who can talk/sing digital microphone (free) Audacity (free)‏ a Blogger blog (free)‏ people who aren't camera-shy + digital video camera ($100+)‏ + Avidemux editing software (free)‏ + a Blogger blog (free)‏
 
#6: Offer Treatsies People like shiny objects, Ask them what they want. Then find them some.
There are many of a treat in HCPL's catalog
Staff Avatars! a la Nashville Public Library
“ My Account” Text Messages
 
#7: Exploit the Free Free web hosting, statistics, and web gadgets‏
 
Tap the Google Wonderland
 
 
#8: Respect Customers You never know when you're lunch. Expect the best, not the worst. Treat customers with respect, regardless of age of which services they use.
 
#9: Offer Users Choices How to contact you How you communicate with them How they find things online What they find online (content & format)‏
Mashups = Choices People are mashing up your library's content. Why not advertise that? Library ELF: account tracking and alerts through e-mail, RSS, and text messaging Library LookUp: click on this bookmarklet when on a webpage with an ISBN to look up item in the catalog LibX Toolbar: Direct access in web browser to catalog and more (other toolbars too)‏
Library Elf
Good Catalog = Choices Can’t change ILS? Consider an overlay! AquaBrowser ($)‏ Endeca ($)‏ LibraryThing for Libraries (fewer $)‏ VuFind (open source)‏ WorldCat Local ($)‏
LibraryThing for Libraries
 
#10: Keep going! Try new things! Push administrators (they like 24/7 nature of web services, minimal staffing and cheap costs, highest ROI in the library)‏ Rejoice in failures (it means you're pushing boundaries!)‏
And why do we do all of this?
Because we're proud of our services, and there's nothing worse than blending in...
 
 
Questions? Sarah Houghton-Jan web: www.LibrarianInBlack.net email: [email_address] IM: LibrarianInBlack Skype: LibrairanInBlack Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack Ask her anything. Really!

More Related Content

10 Lol Cat Laws Of Web Services For Smaller Underfunded Libraries

  • 1. The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller and Underfunded Libraries Sarah Houghton-Jan Digital Futures Manager, San Jose Public Library Author, LibrarianInBlack.net
  • 2. LOL...whatsie? #1: LOLcats are photos, of cats usually, with funny, gramatically incorrect captions #2: The captions often play on memes and “in-jokes” previously generated by other LOLcat photos #3: They spout all sorts of wisdom.
  • 4. The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller & Underfunded Libraries
  • 5.  
  • 6. #1: Talk with customers Email Instant messaging (AIM, Meebo, Plugoo)‏ Chat Widgets (IM or web-based chat window on webpages)‏ Voice Over IP (VOIP like Skype and other services)‏ Video Chat (some IM clients, Skype too!)‏ Text messaging (SMS)‏
  • 8. Put chat windows and “assistance” links where customers are UPSET Screenshot courtesy of David Lee King, Topeka Shawnee County Public Library
  • 9.  
  • 10. Text Messaging (SMS)‏ Cell phones and SMS are now more popular than ever Offer both circulation and reference services via SMS ($)‏ “ For pay” (rather cheap) and hack options (which have security and feature issues)‏
  • 12.  
  • 13. #2: Interact with Customers Welcome comments on everything Respond like a human being Example: offer Online Book Clubs with a mix of staff and customers
  • 14. San Jose Public Library's Teen Book Club on LibraryThing
  • 15. Blogs for Recommendations Blogs (each entry is its own review) -or- Wikis (subject/age based pages w/ reviews)‏ Encourage full staff participation Offer a template w/ tags and categories Welcome customer comments and entries
  • 16.  
  • 17.  
  • 18.  
  • 19. #5: Be Engaged Use EngagedPatrons.org (free and low-cost Web 2.0 services for libraries run by Glenn Peterson of Hennepin County Lib.)‏ Events Calendar with online registration Blogs Google Maps mashup for library locations Library contact form RSS feeds + other stuff too!
  • 20.  
  • 21.  
  • 22.  
  • 23. #3: Be Social Be present where your users are Be real Be reliable and continuously new
  • 24.  
  • 25.  
  • 26. $10 = 5000 Facebook Flyers to targeted audiences Facebook Flyer image by Steve Lawson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary/1546577200 CHEAP ADVERTISING!!!
  • 27.  
  • 28. #4: Use Multimedia Photographs / Images Podcasts Videocasts Games
  • 29. Westmont Public Library http://www.flickr.com/photos/westmontlibrary/549380055/
  • 30.  
  • 31. Exploit Image Generators GeneratorBlog.blogspot.com ImageGenerator.org ImageChef.com
  • 32. Podcasting & Videocasting people who can talk/sing digital microphone (free) Audacity (free)‏ a Blogger blog (free)‏ people who aren't camera-shy + digital video camera ($100+)‏ + Avidemux editing software (free)‏ + a Blogger blog (free)‏
  • 33.  
  • 34. #6: Offer Treatsies People like shiny objects, Ask them what they want. Then find them some.
  • 35. There are many of a treat in HCPL's catalog
  • 36. Staff Avatars! a la Nashville Public Library
  • 37. “ My Account” Text Messages
  • 38.  
  • 39. #7: Exploit the Free Free web hosting, statistics, and web gadgets‏
  • 40.  
  • 41. Tap the Google Wonderland
  • 42.  
  • 43.  
  • 44. #8: Respect Customers You never know when you're lunch. Expect the best, not the worst. Treat customers with respect, regardless of age of which services they use.
  • 45.  
  • 46. #9: Offer Users Choices How to contact you How you communicate with them How they find things online What they find online (content & format)‏
  • 47. Mashups = Choices People are mashing up your library's content. Why not advertise that? Library ELF: account tracking and alerts through e-mail, RSS, and text messaging Library LookUp: click on this bookmarklet when on a webpage with an ISBN to look up item in the catalog LibX Toolbar: Direct access in web browser to catalog and more (other toolbars too)‏
  • 49. Good Catalog = Choices Can’t change ILS? Consider an overlay! AquaBrowser ($)‏ Endeca ($)‏ LibraryThing for Libraries (fewer $)‏ VuFind (open source)‏ WorldCat Local ($)‏
  • 51.  
  • 52. #10: Keep going! Try new things! Push administrators (they like 24/7 nature of web services, minimal staffing and cheap costs, highest ROI in the library)‏ Rejoice in failures (it means you're pushing boundaries!)‏
  • 53. And why do we do all of this?
  • 54. Because we're proud of our services, and there's nothing worse than blending in...
  • 55.  
  • 56.  
  • 57. Questions? Sarah Houghton-Jan web: www.LibrarianInBlack.net email: [email_address] IM: LibrarianInBlack Skype: LibrairanInBlack Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack Ask her anything. Really!