Here is my amateur attempt at screencasting! I selected the social software tool Jango and I highly recommend anyone that's a music lover to check it out. Similar to other websites like rhapsody and pandora, it plays new music based on the artists you select. It also has an active online community and allows users to add each other as friends and comment on one another's page. Anyways, enough chatter! If you are interested, take a look at the screencast and I hope you like it!
http://screenjel.ly/PDUzlaR0wEc
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Lurkers- Friend or Foe?
I am going to start this post by being completely honest- I am a lurker! I can't help it and more importantly I am not ashamed. I do understand that online communities must have members that are willing to regularly contribute otherwise the community will vanish. But, I know from experience that lurkers have genuine reasons for their greedy behavior! The article by Reed (2009) resonated with me on the point that sometimes lurking stems from a new member being shy or intimidated. When I joined an online community, I felt like it took a while until I felt acclamated to how everyone interacted. Even though there were many messages that I agreed with or found meaningful, I did not feel comfortable commenting on ALL of them. Another reason for my lurking is the same reason I put off creating a blog (until I started this course). This reason is that I wanted my posts to be *perfect*. Full of witty humor, profound insight and completely original. The problem with this goal is that perfection is rarely an achievable feat, especially considering my participation in the online community was purely for recreational use. I had difficulty taking time to construct a perfect post when it wasn't related to school or work. Although I have begun to lighten up and create messages when I find a question I can answer or want to show support to another member, I still believe that lurking adds value to any community. You never know- someone who spent years of lurking may become a major contributor eventually
Another issue is anonymous users within an online community. This can be a problem because anonymity can present an opportunity for some people to say things they would never have the gaul to say in a face-to-face environment (Grohol, 2006). Anonymous users can write nasty comments and face no consequences. However, anonymity does have some perks. It allows members to openly discuss topics that they may have been more reserved about if the discussion was in person. I think anonymous users is just part of the fabric of online communities. Yes, some people are miserable and will take advantage of it but as long as there are some moderators in place to make sure it does not escalate to a serious level, it should not be a huge concern.
Grohol, J. (2006). Anonymity and Online Community: Identity Matters. A List Apart. Retrieved from http://www.alistapart.com/articles/identitymatters/.
Reed, M. (2009). Inside the Mind of Online Community Lurker. CommunitySpark. Retrieved from http://www.communityspark.com/inside-the-mind-of-an-online-community-lurker/.
Another issue is anonymous users within an online community. This can be a problem because anonymity can present an opportunity for some people to say things they would never have the gaul to say in a face-to-face environment (Grohol, 2006). Anonymous users can write nasty comments and face no consequences. However, anonymity does have some perks. It allows members to openly discuss topics that they may have been more reserved about if the discussion was in person. I think anonymous users is just part of the fabric of online communities. Yes, some people are miserable and will take advantage of it but as long as there are some moderators in place to make sure it does not escalate to a serious level, it should not be a huge concern.
Grohol, J. (2006). Anonymity and Online Community: Identity Matters. A List Apart. Retrieved from http://www.alistapart.com/articles/identitymatters/.
Reed, M. (2009). Inside the Mind of Online Community Lurker. CommunitySpark. Retrieved from http://www.communityspark.com/inside-the-mind-of-an-online-community-lurker/.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A New Fan of Delicious
At this point in the semester, I have not been able to fully appreciate the value of Delicious. In theory I can understand why social bookmarking is helpful, but I have realized that despite adding a few extra websites of interest, I have not actually referred to my Delicious account as a way of navigating to those sites. Instead, I still use the Favorites tab on my own laptop. I have also discussed Delicious with my family and found that a few of them have tried it but have not used it consistently.
However, as I completed the tasks for Exercise 5, I gained some new insight into why Delicious and social bookmarking has created their own niche within web 2.0 tools. Through this exercise I learned about the social aspects of bookmarking, such as being able to click on the number of people that have tagged a certain item. From there I could select individual users and that is where I began to fall in love with Delicious. I found that I could really gain a sense of users' personalities and interests. I could also find individuals who share similarities with me, such as a love of cooking, shopping and music.
To some I understand that this may all seem so obvious and you may be asking yourself why it took me so long to gain a full grasp of what Delicious offers. I think that just goes to show that you get out of Web 2.0 tools what you put into them. I can read about the features offered by a certain tool but if I do not take the time to actually explore it myself, I will never be abe to make an informed decision on whether or not it is worthwhile to me.
However, as I completed the tasks for Exercise 5, I gained some new insight into why Delicious and social bookmarking has created their own niche within web 2.0 tools. Through this exercise I learned about the social aspects of bookmarking, such as being able to click on the number of people that have tagged a certain item. From there I could select individual users and that is where I began to fall in love with Delicious. I found that I could really gain a sense of users' personalities and interests. I could also find individuals who share similarities with me, such as a love of cooking, shopping and music.
To some I understand that this may all seem so obvious and you may be asking yourself why it took me so long to gain a full grasp of what Delicious offers. I think that just goes to show that you get out of Web 2.0 tools what you put into them. I can read about the features offered by a certain tool but if I do not take the time to actually explore it myself, I will never be abe to make an informed decision on whether or not it is worthwhile to me.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Culture Shock: Online Collaboration
As many of us know from our own work experience, every organization has its own culture. Sometimes that culture is obvious just from the process by which you were hired and other times it may take a few weeks to start to recognize the individual culture of a new workplace. I know that in one of my early library courses we heavily discussed culture and the ways that it effects management. After reading the article, "Corporate Culture, Not Tech, Drives Online Collaboration" from the Web Worker Daily, I am now beginning to understand how culture can also either foster the use of internal collaboration tools, or completely discourage it. And the most fascinating part of this is that it can happen unintentionally. An organization may think they are all for the idea of internal collaboration and supply great new tools, but if the mechanisms within the fabric of that organization are not conducive to collaboration in general, it will not succeed.
The above mentioned article states some key components of a corporate culture that is advantageous to using online collaboration. Some of these components include an organization that is fine with their employees making their own schedules and maybe telecommuting. Such a philosophy is indicative of a culture that does not depend on a lot of face-to-face interaction. This type of organization may greatly benefit from online collaboration.
Also important is a culture that encourages technologically minded employees. If the organization tends to fall behind on tech trends, does not encourage embracing current technology or simply does not do well with technology, then online collaboration will not flourish. The tools may be available but ultimately employees will not use them.
That ties into the next component, which is that the culture must be willing to do more than just supply the tools. There must be people who are sufficiently familiar with how to use them and are able to instruct others on how to work on them as well. It also takes time to plan out strategies of how to implement online collaboration into the organization so that it is used efficiently.
Lastly, any culture attempting to use online collaboration absolutely must have strong support from management. There must be leaders within the organization that believe in online collaboration. Without such support they will not be able to bolster confidence in this new form of communication.
The above mentioned article states some key components of a corporate culture that is advantageous to using online collaboration. Some of these components include an organization that is fine with their employees making their own schedules and maybe telecommuting. Such a philosophy is indicative of a culture that does not depend on a lot of face-to-face interaction. This type of organization may greatly benefit from online collaboration.
Also important is a culture that encourages technologically minded employees. If the organization tends to fall behind on tech trends, does not encourage embracing current technology or simply does not do well with technology, then online collaboration will not flourish. The tools may be available but ultimately employees will not use them.
That ties into the next component, which is that the culture must be willing to do more than just supply the tools. There must be people who are sufficiently familiar with how to use them and are able to instruct others on how to work on them as well. It also takes time to plan out strategies of how to implement online collaboration into the organization so that it is used efficiently.
Lastly, any culture attempting to use online collaboration absolutely must have strong support from management. There must be leaders within the organization that believe in online collaboration. Without such support they will not be able to bolster confidence in this new form of communication.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Biz Wiki is tops
By far, my favorite library wiki is the Biz Wiki that was created by the Ohio University Libraries. I found this wiki to be innovative, thorough, helpful and user friendly. Although I was not a business major in college, I can envision how this would greatly assist college students throughout their academic careers at Ohio University. The reason why this wiki is successful is because it organizes the resources that are available through the libraries in a way that makes them readily accessible. If I had a project involving marketing, I could quickly find a list of all the databases related to marketing. Not only would I be able to find links to these databases but I could also read short descriptions and tips on how to use each one.
This wiki does not only cover databases. It also concerns itself with reference books, websites and research guides as long as they are related to business. It's clear that the librarians at this institution are deeply committed to helping their business students conduct research. The wiki provides insightful information on how to locate industry information, statistics, company information, data on international business, etc. There is a wide range of business areas covered throughout this wiki, which demonstrates the thoroughness of the libraries' resources.
What I enjoyed the most about this wiki is its user friendliness. Its interface is very reminiscent of Wikipedia, which helped me feel immediately comfortable with it. Given all the research conducted on college students and their strong reliance on Wikipedia, it is safe to assume that many Ohio University students are also quite familiar with the site. Therefore, this wiki is less intimidating because it is not altogether new to them. Aside from the Wikipedia resemblance, Biz Wiki is also easy to navigate because each of the various sections are distinctly labeled and organized.
When comparing Biz Wiki to the other wiki examples, I was able to see how the purpose of wiki the most crucial aspect of it. Biz Wiki is designed for undergraduate students. It must be able to assist students in research regardless of their professor or specific project because these factors change regularly.
The Plymouth Regional High School Library Research Page is created to help teachers implement wiki usage into their curriculum. Therefore, the articles are meant to be read by teachers and not for outsiders to gain any valuable new information. There are also some articles that only contain links to websites.
The Durham County Library Strategic Plan's wiki is meant to facilitate customer input. Their articles state the various ways they are striving to meet each of the goals within their plan. It is an excellent wiki and provides an opportunity for people to stay informed on how the library is progresses in regards to their strategic plan.
These wikis all made a strong impression on me for different reasons. I appreciate how a library can incorporate a wiki into their high school students' regular activities, a public library can gain ideas from its users, and a university can guide its business students through their research. These examples all shine for different reasons and it is a testament to the versatility of wikis.
This wiki does not only cover databases. It also concerns itself with reference books, websites and research guides as long as they are related to business. It's clear that the librarians at this institution are deeply committed to helping their business students conduct research. The wiki provides insightful information on how to locate industry information, statistics, company information, data on international business, etc. There is a wide range of business areas covered throughout this wiki, which demonstrates the thoroughness of the libraries' resources.
What I enjoyed the most about this wiki is its user friendliness. Its interface is very reminiscent of Wikipedia, which helped me feel immediately comfortable with it. Given all the research conducted on college students and their strong reliance on Wikipedia, it is safe to assume that many Ohio University students are also quite familiar with the site. Therefore, this wiki is less intimidating because it is not altogether new to them. Aside from the Wikipedia resemblance, Biz Wiki is also easy to navigate because each of the various sections are distinctly labeled and organized.
When comparing Biz Wiki to the other wiki examples, I was able to see how the purpose of wiki the most crucial aspect of it. Biz Wiki is designed for undergraduate students. It must be able to assist students in research regardless of their professor or specific project because these factors change regularly.
The Plymouth Regional High School Library Research Page is created to help teachers implement wiki usage into their curriculum. Therefore, the articles are meant to be read by teachers and not for outsiders to gain any valuable new information. There are also some articles that only contain links to websites.
The Durham County Library Strategic Plan's wiki is meant to facilitate customer input. Their articles state the various ways they are striving to meet each of the goals within their plan. It is an excellent wiki and provides an opportunity for people to stay informed on how the library is progresses in regards to their strategic plan.
These wikis all made a strong impression on me for different reasons. I appreciate how a library can incorporate a wiki into their high school students' regular activities, a public library can gain ideas from its users, and a university can guide its business students through their research. These examples all shine for different reasons and it is a testament to the versatility of wikis.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Smithsonian Institution Libraries- Marketing Critique
Marketing Critique
One library organization with a strong online presence is the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Although they have an impressive website, what really makes their presence known in the cyberworld is how they have adopted various social networking tools as part of their marketing strategy. A user can follow them on Twitter, add them on Facebook, view their photos on Flickr or subscribe to their channel on YouTube. By employing all of these formats, the Smithsonian Institution Libraries are able to reach out to users in a variety of ways. Their website has its own blog, but they rely on Twitter and Facebook as a means of broadcasting their blog to people that might not have sought out their website. The Smithsonian Institution is a large organization hosting twenty individual libraries. The institution supports research for the advancement of science and the arts. They work closely with the federal government, universities and the American people. This is quite the challenging patron database to serve! However, their approach to using social media for marketing purposes proves to be innovative and quite effective.
The Smithsonian Institution Libraries’ Facebook profile is full of vibrant information. Their status is updated on a regular basis with announcements of upcoming events, acquisitions, and other items from their blog. The profile also features pictures that help to bring the library to life. From such events as a film premier, symposium and various receptions, the photos demonstrate to users that the library offers a community for them to join. Their Facebook page also has a blog section that is filled with posts from their website. These blogposts provide a unique peek into how the libraries operate. Instead of dry, generic announcements, this platform is used to highlight what each library consists of. For example, some of the blogposts introduce interns and describe a bit about the projects they are working on. It is enhanced by many images and videos related to the topics being covered. This is an excellent marketing technique because it allows users to feel especially connected to the Libraries.
While their Facebook page is chuckful of engaging information, it is lacking in the area of interacting with their users. For example, there is a Discussion page on their profile that has not been updated in six months. Also, comments are left unanswered and unacknowledged on their Facebook Wall.
Another social media tool that is heavily used by the Libraries is Twitter. Their Twitter page is updated at least once a day and has 3,857 followers. Each tweet is full of spunk and excitement. I did not read any tweets that were boring, which led me to believe that they understand how important it is to not only draw in followers, but keep them coming back. Many of the tweets were shorter versions of their Facebook status. However, they also used Twitter as a platform for minor and casual announcements. It seems like it is used as a mechanism to keep users in touch with the Libraries and remind them that there is a lot of stuff happening around the clock. Twitter also gives the Smithsonian an opportunity to showcase their networking skills. Plenty of references are made to associations and conferences that the libraries are affiliated with.
One area of their Twitter activity that could use some improvement is the amount of users they are following. They are following 319, which sounds like a lot but some of those Twitter accounts are related to the Smithsonian Institute. While this helps the Libraries stay connected with other departments in the organization, it does not help facilitate interaction with individual users.
One of the most innovative parts of the Libraries’ marketing strategy is their use of Flickr. This profile is used to show pictures of items from their collections. Their photos are of good quality and help to illustrate the specialized collections they have. As a museum library, they have many interesting artifacts and Flickr may assist in leading users to the Libraries. For example, imagine you are a Charles Dickens fanatic and enter the author’s name into the Flickr search box. All of the sudden you come across photos of original print Charles Dickens novels! Most likely you would look to find the source and once you realized where it is from, your interest in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries may be piqued.
The Smithsonian Institution Libraries have also created their own YouTube channel. This channel has a variety of videos elaborating on the Libraries’ mission, collections and history. These videos are quite engaging and a few try to elicit donations from users. What I found most valuable about using YouTube is that the different videos are able to demonstrate the unique qualities of each of their libraries. Through their YouTube videos one gains an understanding of how each library offers a distinct set of information. The videos are incredibly enriched by the use of quotes from actual users. They also articulate user satisfaction in a real life way. In addition, there are videos showing the construction of some of the libraries, which do an excellent job of describing the vision that was behind these buildings. By allowing users to view the library without its collection already assembled on the shelves, users feel like they are part of the behind the scenes process.
Some ways their YouTube account could be enhanced is by subscribing to more channels. So far they have only subscribed to three, all of which belong to the Smithsonian Institute. By engaging more thoroughly in the YouTube community, the Libraries may gain a wider following. As it is they have 197 subscribers. That is quite a bit less than those following them on Twitter.
Overall, I believe they have built a very strong brand through their commitment to professionalism that is infused with genuine enthusiasm. It is clear that this is a place full of exciting collections and adventures. They have done a great job of communicating that through their social networking tools. One tactic that has definitely contributed to the strength of their brand is their persistent linking of the various sites that hold their participation. Their official website has multiple links to each user account. In addition, each individual profile contains links to the others. A third reason for their strong brand is that they promote content daily. There is a strong commitment to making their social network profiles vital and relevant to their users. There is no denying that careful planning and dedication are key components in their successful brand.
If I were hired by the Smithsonian Institution Libraries as their social media marketing consultant, I would focus on improving interaction with users through social media. The first way I would go about this is by responding to users’ comments on all of the social media networks. I would also set up a Myspace account. This would require additional planning and maintenance, but it may reach users that are not accessible through the other tools. Lastly, I would subscribe to many relevant YouTube channels and regularly make professional, intelligent comments. This may generate additional interest in my organization’s videos.
If I were hired by the Smithsonian Institution Libraries as their social media marketing consultant, I would focus on improving interaction with users through social media. The first way I would go about this is by responding to users’ comments on all of the social media networks. I would also set up a Myspace account. This would require additional planning and maintenance, but it may reach users that are not accessible through the other tools. Lastly, I would subscribe to many relevant YouTube channels and regularly make professional, intelligent comments. This may generate additional interest in my organization’s videos.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Myspace and Libraries
After viewing some examples of library profiles on Myspace, I became even more convinced that they are an asset to any library's marketing efforts. Some of these profiles were obviously very active with plenty of friends and current blogposts. I also found it appealing how a few of them used the Books and Movies section as a place to provide links to specific books in their catalog. It made it very convenient for a user to click and find if it is available.
Denver Public Library page even added music to their page! I believe this represents the #1 reason why libraries should build a presence on social networking sites- it allows for expression of each individual library. This is a way to communicate what makes one's library special. Denver Public Library's page also contains links to their online databases and has a quick description of how each one may be useful. Some students may think public libraries onl cater to adults and so this profile would help fight that misconception.
Facebook's Place in the Library World
I believe that libraries should use Facebook as a means of proactively reaching out to potential patrons, especially in the academic setting. Students tend to rely on Facebook as a source of news. They look to it for updates on the lives of their friends and family, but also they get notifications about upcoming performances, events and rallys. It is a mecca for current information that is relevant to their lives.
Although students may be somewhat dependent on Facebook, that does not necessarily mean they will know where to find the page of their library. Some may not know if it would be appropriate for them to add the library to their likes or as a friend. In this case, reaching out to students and communicating how the page can be useful to them is a great service.
I think it is important to also add a little note along with the friend request. This note could explain that the Facebook profile is a great way to receive news updates from the library and to ask questions of the librarians.
Although students may be somewhat dependent on Facebook, that does not necessarily mean they will know where to find the page of their library. Some may not know if it would be appropriate for them to add the library to their likes or as a friend. In this case, reaching out to students and communicating how the page can be useful to them is a great service.
I think it is important to also add a little note along with the friend request. This note could explain that the Facebook profile is a great way to receive news updates from the library and to ask questions of the librarians.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Destination Web is here to stay
Social media has definitely changed the internet for good, but I still think that traditional destination web sites are in demand. I typically prefer using the destination web for some of my information needs. Although Twitter and Facebook offer the advantage of allowing users to interact in ways the destination web cannot compete with, there are times where interaction is not my goal. Also, I still get intimidated by some Web 2.0 tools. I enjoy RSS feeds to a certain extent but I still find myself going to the New York Times website and browsing aimlessly for articles to read. These are all just my personal preferences but I believe many other people have similar reasons for relying on the destination web consistently.
Then there are also all of the internet users that are still uninformed on how and why they should use tools like Facebook or Twitter. They have either chosen to ignore these tools or they have tried them and were not impressed. This leads them to still use the destination web 100% of the time.
Although I am still formulating my opinion on whether or not the destination web era is on its way to becoming over, as of now I see it remaining relevant and widely used.
Then there are also all of the internet users that are still uninformed on how and why they should use tools like Facebook or Twitter. They have either chosen to ignore these tools or they have tried them and were not impressed. This leads them to still use the destination web 100% of the time.
Although I am still formulating my opinion on whether or not the destination web era is on its way to becoming over, as of now I see it remaining relevant and widely used.
Tweet-a-dee-doo
One of the main purposes of libraries is to act as a community center. Whether it is a public library serving local residents as users or a corporate library that must serve the information needs of the entire organization, the library needs to reach out to its community if it wants to act as its hub. From reading about microblogging, I realized just how relevant Twitter is to that mission of the library. Twitter is a tool that can be used to alert potential users of the library's happenings and to also interact with those users outside of the library building or website.
When I think of a library using Twitter, I imagine enthusiastic, creative and informative Tweets to be regularly posted (at least twice a week in my opinion). Some of these tweets may involve library announcements such as new holiday hours or a change to a policy. They can also announce special events, new displays and additions to the collection. These Tweets strike me as no-brainers. They are the type of announcements that one would expect on a bulletin board within the library.
However, in order to fully utilize the power of Twitter, libraries must find ways to incorporate the personality and enthusiasm of the library and pump that into their tweets! An example of this type of tweet is, "Did you know one of our very own library assistants survived Hurricane Katrina? In honor of remembering this tragic segment of American history, she has handpicked some resources on natural disasters for the library's front window. Check them out!" Any way that a library can express the individuality of their organization will help them accumulate followers.
I also envision tweeting libraries to network with other people besides users. They should be following other local libraries and looking for ways to collaborate with them. Also, they should follow organizations that support libraries and use Twitter as a way to stay informed on professional development opportunities.
They are many other ways libraries can use Twitter to their advantage such as by using it to offer reference services and distribute a short newsletter. However, the most crucial part of any library's Twittering is for them to remain dedicated to updating it, interact with other people and promote their Twitter page as much as possible!
When I think of a library using Twitter, I imagine enthusiastic, creative and informative Tweets to be regularly posted (at least twice a week in my opinion). Some of these tweets may involve library announcements such as new holiday hours or a change to a policy. They can also announce special events, new displays and additions to the collection. These Tweets strike me as no-brainers. They are the type of announcements that one would expect on a bulletin board within the library.
However, in order to fully utilize the power of Twitter, libraries must find ways to incorporate the personality and enthusiasm of the library and pump that into their tweets! An example of this type of tweet is, "Did you know one of our very own library assistants survived Hurricane Katrina? In honor of remembering this tragic segment of American history, she has handpicked some resources on natural disasters for the library's front window. Check them out!" Any way that a library can express the individuality of their organization will help them accumulate followers.
I also envision tweeting libraries to network with other people besides users. They should be following other local libraries and looking for ways to collaborate with them. Also, they should follow organizations that support libraries and use Twitter as a way to stay informed on professional development opportunities.
They are many other ways libraries can use Twitter to their advantage such as by using it to offer reference services and distribute a short newsletter. However, the most crucial part of any library's Twittering is for them to remain dedicated to updating it, interact with other people and promote their Twitter page as much as possible!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Grab Bag of Blogs
The class exercise of subscribing to specific blogs allowed me to understand that blogs covering librarianship can be very different! Each one had its own personality, approach, writing style and area of focus. I especially liked reading the "About" section for each blog before actually reading the posts. This allowed me to anticipate the angle the blogger would take. For instance, after reading that the author of the Distant Librarian blog is a webmaster for the University of Calgary library, I expected to read about ways of improving one's library website. To some degree I was right but this blogger does branch out to other topics related to librarianship. His typical post is a short paragraph along with about three links to more information.
On the other hand, reading that the author of the Librarian's Commute clearly states that the objective of her blog is not to post news on the latest tech tools made me expect something else. I soon realized that she orients her blog toward reflecting on libraries and this blog seems a bit personal because I learned about her observations from her own library. The average length of her posts tend to be 3-4 paragraphs accompanied by photo of her local surroundings.
In the Library with the Lead Pipe is entirely different from the other blogs because it is orchestrated by a team of librarians from different types of libraries. This blog has various guest posters contribute to their blog, which keeps the opinions fresh and also makes it much less predictable than the postings of all the other blogs. A reader may never know what to expect when riffling through this blog's archive. The length of the posts in this blog are substantially longer than those in the other blogs. In the Library with the Lead Pipe strives to go into depth on each topic of choice and thoroughly explores them. There are some links embedded in the posts as well.
Librarian by Day is different from the others because the author focuses on technology but not necessarily on how to use the most complicated tools. Instead she explores where libraries belong in the digital age and is primarily fixated on fun, hip tools that keep the Next Generation in the know. Librarian by Day chooses to concentrate on the fun capabilities of new technology for libraries rather than the fundamentals of how to make your library website the most technologically advanced.
After surveying these five blogs, I immediately knew which one was my favorite. I found the Librarian's Commute to be the most appealing because it includes lots of stories. Through these stories I believe I was able to envision that library, her daily duties, the type of patrons she serves and her thoughts behind most of these things. I was delighted to read some of her insights on information seeking behavior because I definitely could relate. This blog was also the most appealing because it urged me to invest some extra thought into the direction I believe libraries need to go in order to remain relevant.
As for the rest of the blogs, I realized other attributes that I find appealing are when a blog is not too tech-y. I do want/need to learn more about technological tools that can be used to better my library. However, I am not a fanatic about technology so some of the blogs lost me with their relentless enthusiasm and extra detail on this topic. Another attribute is that it is important that I can detect a strong level of passion in the blogger's writing. Now this can be tricky because too much exuberance is off putting (and annoying!) but just enough to convince me that the writer genuinely cares about what they are discussing keeps me engaged and interested. Lastly, a blog should have a clear proclamation of its goal. I appreciate knowing that the blogger has a steadfast objective in mind and has invested some planning into their creation. If I find the objective to be worthwhile, I am more likely to return to the blog repeatedly.
When afforded the freedom to choose an additional three blogs to add to my RSS feeder, I was pleased to select the Librarian in Black. This blog is written with great gusto and knowledge on why libraries still matter and how to keep them relevant. There are wonderful graphics and many of the posts contain excellent PowerPoint presentations that the blogger has given for various conferences and organizations. Her posts are always current and fun!
The next blog I added to my subscriptions was Gargoyles Loose in the Library. This is a school library blog that offers posts about news related to reading, book reviews and local happenings within the library. There are also many pictures and videos to enhance the posts.
Lastly, I added Tame the Web to my blog subscriptions. This one is about the practical application of technology in libraries worldwide. The blogger includes news alerts about what libraries are doing to use technology to their advantage.
From what I can gather about all three of these blogs, in order to be successful they must constantly be maintained. It is obvious that there is a lot of hard work invested in each one and that it pays off. From website design, personalized graphics, thorough research and creative thought, these blogs continue to flourish and gain more followers. I also believe they are successful because each blogger is accessible through other Web 2.0 social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter.
On the other hand, reading that the author of the Librarian's Commute clearly states that the objective of her blog is not to post news on the latest tech tools made me expect something else. I soon realized that she orients her blog toward reflecting on libraries and this blog seems a bit personal because I learned about her observations from her own library. The average length of her posts tend to be 3-4 paragraphs accompanied by photo of her local surroundings.
In the Library with the Lead Pipe is entirely different from the other blogs because it is orchestrated by a team of librarians from different types of libraries. This blog has various guest posters contribute to their blog, which keeps the opinions fresh and also makes it much less predictable than the postings of all the other blogs. A reader may never know what to expect when riffling through this blog's archive. The length of the posts in this blog are substantially longer than those in the other blogs. In the Library with the Lead Pipe strives to go into depth on each topic of choice and thoroughly explores them. There are some links embedded in the posts as well.
Librarian by Day is different from the others because the author focuses on technology but not necessarily on how to use the most complicated tools. Instead she explores where libraries belong in the digital age and is primarily fixated on fun, hip tools that keep the Next Generation in the know. Librarian by Day chooses to concentrate on the fun capabilities of new technology for libraries rather than the fundamentals of how to make your library website the most technologically advanced.
After surveying these five blogs, I immediately knew which one was my favorite. I found the Librarian's Commute to be the most appealing because it includes lots of stories. Through these stories I believe I was able to envision that library, her daily duties, the type of patrons she serves and her thoughts behind most of these things. I was delighted to read some of her insights on information seeking behavior because I definitely could relate. This blog was also the most appealing because it urged me to invest some extra thought into the direction I believe libraries need to go in order to remain relevant.
As for the rest of the blogs, I realized other attributes that I find appealing are when a blog is not too tech-y. I do want/need to learn more about technological tools that can be used to better my library. However, I am not a fanatic about technology so some of the blogs lost me with their relentless enthusiasm and extra detail on this topic. Another attribute is that it is important that I can detect a strong level of passion in the blogger's writing. Now this can be tricky because too much exuberance is off putting (and annoying!) but just enough to convince me that the writer genuinely cares about what they are discussing keeps me engaged and interested. Lastly, a blog should have a clear proclamation of its goal. I appreciate knowing that the blogger has a steadfast objective in mind and has invested some planning into their creation. If I find the objective to be worthwhile, I am more likely to return to the blog repeatedly.
When afforded the freedom to choose an additional three blogs to add to my RSS feeder, I was pleased to select the Librarian in Black. This blog is written with great gusto and knowledge on why libraries still matter and how to keep them relevant. There are wonderful graphics and many of the posts contain excellent PowerPoint presentations that the blogger has given for various conferences and organizations. Her posts are always current and fun!
The next blog I added to my subscriptions was Gargoyles Loose in the Library. This is a school library blog that offers posts about news related to reading, book reviews and local happenings within the library. There are also many pictures and videos to enhance the posts.
Lastly, I added Tame the Web to my blog subscriptions. This one is about the practical application of technology in libraries worldwide. The blogger includes news alerts about what libraries are doing to use technology to their advantage.
From what I can gather about all three of these blogs, in order to be successful they must constantly be maintained. It is obvious that there is a lot of hard work invested in each one and that it pays off. From website design, personalized graphics, thorough research and creative thought, these blogs continue to flourish and gain more followers. I also believe they are successful because each blogger is accessible through other Web 2.0 social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter.
Friday, February 11, 2011
WARNING: Bloggers beware
From my reads on social networking, one lesson that has been consistently mentioned is, "INVEST TIME!" Web 2.0 tools are fascinating and present almost endless possibilities. However, they are hinged on engagement from the creators and from the users. A strategy must be developed in order to draw readers to the blog but also to keep them coming back. Such a feat cannot be achieved by merely creating a weekly post about library news. It is crucial to any blog's success that the creator is prepared to spend time, thought, blood, sweat and tears in order to make it worthwhile to readers. The strategy must also establish what the intent of the blog is going to be. What is the library hoping to achieve through this blog? The objective of most blogs is to disseminate information and draw users to the library. However, do they need and value feedback from users? The library should be prepared to foster a relationship with its users through the blog. This may demand time but in the end it can be quite fruitful.
Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/herroyalmajesty/5068089039/
Blog-o-mania!
I think blogging really forces you to pause and reflect on what it is you're writing about. Unlike a regular writing assignment that only gets read by a professor, blogging each week on our course's topics requires me to be a little more honest. This may sound horrible, I know, but the fact that anyone online may be reading this forces me to not just regurgitate what I believe the professor wants to hear. I have to take better stock of my own thoughts and perceptions. I can honestly say that blogging makes me take a whole new approach to how I communicate what I'm learning.
Also, since I am required to blog, I have developed a need to study the craft of blogging. Before beginning this course, I would simply read blogs that kept me informed on topics of interest to me. Now, I am observing the bloggers' tactics. Does the blogger tell stories? Do they write with passion? Are there many related links embedded into the content? Also, are there comments present from other readers and does the blogger respond to those comments? These are all elements of a blog that went unnoticed to me before. Just by now being aware and able to critically study them, I know that I am already learning a lot from this course.
Image from: http://jennyartichoke.wordpress.com/category/sixties/
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Betsey Johnson brand in cyberspace
Photo from: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704648604575620931506617098.html
After studying the branding power that social media presents to businesses, I wanted to explore what people in cyberspace are saying about the Betsey Johnson clothing line. I perceive this designer as one that thrives on innovative and creativity. Therefore, I assumed that the label has catapulted themselves into the world of social media and that they possess a strong presence for consumers to interact with.
Image from: http://ecandy-ecandy.blogspot.com/
In my hunt for Betsey Johnson’s social media voice, I first set out to find blogs discussing the company. I used the social media-monitoring tool BlogSearch. Through this tool I was able to uncover the blog, "Discovering More About Betsey Johnson Swimwear". It discusses the history and inspiration for the clothing company. It also states that Betsey Johnson swimwear is flattering to many different body types but not necessarily "suited" (like my pun?) for women that are shy. This blog seemed to exquisitely capture the attitude behind the brand as well as give honest advice regarding for whom this swimwear is best.
Photo from: www.designerplanet.com
The second blog I stumbled upon is titled, "High Maintenance Woman". This blog critiques a variety of jewelry designed by Betsey Johnson. It is full of compliments and critiques, giving the reader a fully honest description.
Photo from: www.addwishlist.blogspot.com
The third article related to Betsey Johnson belongs to a blog dedicated to shopping, stores and boutiques in the Seattle area (NW Source). This blog announced an event that Betsey Johnson would be hosting. At this event, people could meet the designer, hear her give a speech about surviving breast cancer and buy merchandise with a portion of the proceeds going toward breast cancer research. The blog expressed the clothing line's ability to spread awareness for a cause. It also described the designer's personal connection with breast cancer.
Photo from: www.thesalerack.net
The second tool that I used to monitor Betsey Johnson's social media activity was Tweetscan.com. Through this tool I detected four current Tweets about Betsey Johnson. Two of the Tweets were from consumers expressing their love of the brand. The third tweet contained a link to a Wall Street Journal article titled, "Betsey Johnson Faces a Makeover". This article states that the new CEO of the company is determined to revamp the brand by opening more boutiques nationwide and increasing its e-commerce revenue. In the article, the designer Betsey Johnson claims that she will still remain onboard as the head designer and that she will not sell out her brand. However, the author of the article speculates that the brand will mellow out and become more commercial as a result of this new CEO. The fourth tweet detected by Tweetscan was a coupon for an online store that sells Betsey Johnson products.
Photo from: www.online.wsj.com
The last tool I used was Social Mention. This tool provided a great deal of information regarding what consumers are saying about Betsey Johnson via Social Media. After searching for the brand's name, I found statistics on the type of information posted about it. For example: 9:1 sentiment, which means most of it is positive; 9% strength, which indicates the likelihood of the brand being mentioned in social media; 38% passion, meaning those individuals mentioning the brand are doing so passionately; and 25% reach, which means the range of influence.
After reviewing the information found through SocialMention.com, I realized that the majority of what is being said about the brand is positive, but Betsey Johnson does not seem to have a strong presence within the world of social media.
In order to see how popular the official Betsey Johnson website is, looked it up on Delicious and found that there have been 309 bookmarks since November 2005. I also searched for the brand's name in Wikipedia. There I found an entry for the designer. Although mostly biographical, it did contain information about her successes and failures with the clothing line.
The brand has made an effort to proactively interact with their customers through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. Through their Twitter page they are able to announce sales, new products, articles covering the label, upcoming fashion shows and events. Currently they have 65,229 followers on Twitter.
Through their Facebook page I viewed a plethora of status updates about new products, upcoming fashion shows and contests for winning prizes. Currently there are 129,334 Facebook users that have "liked" theBetsey Johnson page. On their Facebook the brand has a Discussion Page. Here the designer provides the opportunity for consumers to ask her any questions and she promises to answer them. Some of the questions I observed were related to the jewelry line, employment at the brand's boutiques and the designer’s inspiration. For the most part, the designer was able to respond to each individual question with enthusiasm and gratitude. However, on the brand's Facebook wall one consumer posted that they were disappointed in how easily Betsey Johnson purses break. There was no response from the brand. I believe this would have been an excellent opportunity for the company to acknowledge the complaint. By ignoring it, they allowed the comment to damage their reputation.
From the observation of all of these tools, I was able to deduce that Betsey Johnson does have a presence within social media and that the company has exerted effort and resources to create a place for the brand to interact with consumers. However, there is a lot more they could be doing such as responding to consumer complaints on their Facebook page or creating their own blogs and responding to comments there as well. By simply posting announcements on social media outlets, they are not facilitating the development of relationships between the brand and its fans. Instead, they are throwing information at the consumer and not responding to any of their feedback. I acknowledge that their Facebook Discussion page is a great way to engage with consumers but it seems senseless to respond to customers’ questions through that page and not when they make any type of comment on the main Facebook wall.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Libraries---Seize the Social Media Day!
The number one way I believe libraries should manage their brand online is by advocating their services through social media. With more and more people using the internet to meet their information needs, it is common for the average user to become unaware of the many valuable services libraries offer. Twittering, blogging or updating a Facebook status about the free Wifi available in public libraries or the guest speaker on job search techniques are ways that the average person may be made aware of how library services are relevant to their needs.
So, in order for the message to reach potential users, libraries must find ways to use the proper social media channels. However, this goes beyond simply creating a Facebook account and adding friends. Libraries must carefully plan a social media strategy that will improve the status of their brand but also be manageable for the library over time. Managing one's online reputation requires continued maintenance and interaction with users. The strategy must involve encouraging the input of users but that is pointless if there is no representative from the library to keep the interaction flowing. If a library is blogging about all the great guest speakers they have lined up for next month and a user comments that they wish to see a speaker on body image issues, it is only appropriate that a library representative acknowledge that request. Even if all they say is that the library will look into covering that topic, at least they are showing the user that their opinion is valuable to the library.
So, in order for the message to reach potential users, libraries must find ways to use the proper social media channels. However, this goes beyond simply creating a Facebook account and adding friends. Libraries must carefully plan a social media strategy that will improve the status of their brand but also be manageable for the library over time. Managing one's online reputation requires continued maintenance and interaction with users. The strategy must involve encouraging the input of users but that is pointless if there is no representative from the library to keep the interaction flowing. If a library is blogging about all the great guest speakers they have lined up for next month and a user comments that they wish to see a speaker on body image issues, it is only appropriate that a library representative acknowledge that request. Even if all they say is that the library will look into covering that topic, at least they are showing the user that their opinion is valuable to the library.
Negative Reviews from Users
Thanks to social media, consumers now have the power to dictate how a brand is perceived. Through online forums such as blogs and reviewer websites, honest opinions are given valuable attention from would-be customers. I know from personal experience that user reviews generated on sites such as Yelp.com, Amazon.com and MakeupTalk.com can provide insight that advertisements have never offered. Before buying a product, I am able to do some research and learn the pros and cons to each brand and version of the product that is on the market. It is almost like having a best friend that just bought the item and wants to offer their opinion on it. But, sometimes these reviews come from people that are impossible to please or may have had a negative experience that is not typical of a company or product line. This can have a devastating impact on the reputation of a brand.
A proactive company can combat this dilemma by making their presence known within such forums. By the brand expressing helpful feedback and genuine concern, potential viewers may formulate a better opinion of the brand. One important way this can be achieved is by a representative of the company correcting inaccurate information. I will try to give an example- I visit a lot of beauty product forums and blogs. All too often I see a negative review about how a product didn't work but actually the customer was using the product incorrectly. If there was a friendly and informative response from someone in the company, that customer and others reading the review could walk away better informed about the product.
A proactive company can combat this dilemma by making their presence known within such forums. By the brand expressing helpful feedback and genuine concern, potential viewers may formulate a better opinion of the brand. One important way this can be achieved is by a representative of the company correcting inaccurate information. I will try to give an example- I visit a lot of beauty product forums and blogs. All too often I see a negative review about how a product didn't work but actually the customer was using the product incorrectly. If there was a friendly and informative response from someone in the company, that customer and others reading the review could walk away better informed about the product.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Library 2.0
Hello everyone! My name is Siobhan and I live in San Diego, CA. I currently work full time in a private Middle/High School library and I feel incredibly grateful to have this work opportunity (especially since I had no prior library experience when I was hired)! Although I do love working at a school, I would like to eventually work with Special Collections in another type of library.
I think that social media is rapidly becoming a permanent fixture in our society. Therefore, institutions cannot afford to ignore its presence and must implement these tools in ways that suit their target audiences. I look forward to this class exposing me to new tools and allowing me to analyze the best ways in which they can be applied to the library users I serve.
After reading the articles selected for this week, I was particularly struck by the consistent mentioning of individuals who do not believe Library 2.0 exists. Perhaps that is because library professionals that embrace technology and the need for libraries to evolve have always surrounded me. Still, I cannot understand people who think social software is just a fad.
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