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Putting Library 2.0 into Practice

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This paper is the proceedings for a talk on Putting Library 2.0 into Practice at Internet Librarian International 2006. The talk will address two topics tagging in the physical library and instant messenger reference. Tagging is already in use at Copenhagen Public Library and the instant messenger is being testet. We will cover the basics of the two technologies and look at how they are used in practice. Copenhagen Public Library consists one City Library and 19 branches and have 260.000 patrons.

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Page 1: Putting Library 2.0 into Practice

Putting Library 2.0 into Practice

Agot Berger ([email protected])Henriette Ritz Kylmann ([email protected])

Thor Dekov Buur ([email protected])Copenhagen Public Library

August 9, 2006

Internet Librarian International 2006

London 16 - 17 October 2006

Session A102 October 16, 12.00 - 12-15

Abstract

This paper is the proceedings for a talk on Putting Library 2.0 into

Practice at Internet Librarian International 2006.The talk will address two topics tagging in the physical library and instant

messenger reference. Tagging is already in use at Copenhagen PublicLibrary and the instant messenger is being testet. We will cover thebasics of the two technologies and look at how they are used in practice.Copenhagen Public Library consists one City Library and 19 branchesand have 260.000 patrons.

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1 Tagging the Physical Library

A key concept in web 2.0 and library 2.0 is tagging. There are severalattempts to implement tagging in the catalogue, but this is often difficultdue to closed library systems (OPACs). This talk will not address theonline catalogue, but instead look at the physical library.

1.1 Tagging: a short introduction

You properly already know about tags and tagging. In libraries we haveused them for decades in a well defined way so we quickly can find relatedmaterials. Now tags have become a tool for everybody especially as asocial tool. Just look a del.icio.us1 and Flicr2 here tags are the primarymethod for organizing content. In short a tag can be compared with asubject. A tag is defined by the user relying on no rules or guidelines.Opposite to this a subject is defined by the libraries according to specialrules.On may argue that the unstructured nature of tags makes it impossibleto use but it seems not to be true. People very often use the same tags forthe same content though they have never met. Also people tend to useseveral tags for an item. This makes it easy to find relevant content forwhat ever you are looking for. Finally tags are allowed to be subjectiveand can express the tagger’s views.

1.2 How to use tagging in the physical library

In Copenhagen we offer tagging at two libraries at the moment. We usea concept developed on a workshop at Copenhagen Main Library held byOpening The Book3. The concept is quite simple. We have made somecoloured flags that patrons can place in books and other material. Thisway the tagged material will be highlighted when another patron looks atthe shelves. On the flags we put smileys or short words like wow, Boring,Women only, Figure 1 shows two examples. It needs to be short andeasily recognizable so that the patron immediately knows what it means.

Figure 1: Two physical tags

1del.icio.us is a collection of links. You can keep, share and discover links: http://del.icio.us2Online photo management and sharing application: www.flickr.com3For more inforamtion: www.openingthebook.com

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Figure 2: How a physical tag is used

The patron (or staff member) can take a flag and place it in a book tostate point of view on the book Figure 2 shows how it is used. How otherpatrons will interpret the tag is not to say but nevertheless the book willdraw attention. A tag is of cause not only positive, it might as well benegative. It just needs to express an opinion.At the moment the staff decides the tags. Next step is for patrons to maketags themselves. This could simply be done by making blank flags and letthe patrons put on words or signs. The tags is a quick way for a patronto comment on a book. Time is often a factor in a visit a the library, andfar from all users have the time to make a review. Another way to usethe flags it as rating. A flag could have one or more stars as we know itfrom e.g. Amazon.

2 Instant Messenger Reference

In the second half we will look at Instant Messenger and how it can beused to service the patrons.

2.1 Instant Messenger: a short introduction

Instant Messenger (IM) is a way of chatting or sending text messagesbetween computers in real time. The concept has been around for yearsbut has had a major breakthrough over the last few years. Besides sendingtext messages it is often possible to send files such as pictures as well.IM is widely used but is often regarded as just for fun and somewhatunserious. But we know that IM is heavily used by young people andkids and they regard it on same level as mobile phones it is simply a partof their everyday life. If we want to be attractive to this group we needuse the same technology as they do.// Unlike e-mail, phone etc. IM hasno standard way of opreating. This means there are several different IM-network that do not communicate. How this is handled will be coveredlater.

2.2 How to get started with IM

At Copenhagen Public Library we are currently offering IM at onebranch. It has to accounts one for kids/teens and one for adults. Thisway patrons get more qualified answers. This branch started after a shortintroduction to IM.This fall Copenhagen City Library, which is the main library, will also

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offer IM reference. We have used a different approach and given all staffmembers (including administrative personnel) a two hour course in IM.This because sevral employees had never used IM and found it hard tosee the possibilities. Doing the summer they use IM for internal commu-nication so they are ready to go public.When IM is implemented at City Library also the rest of our brancheswill start using IM also.

Which approach is better is hard to say. If the staff is new to IM thesecond properly will be better. Through the course they get to know theIM client and during the test phase they will learn how to use it properlyA side effect to this approach is the ongoing discussion on how to use IMin the references. What kind of questions will we answer, what is bestpractice, how to deal with troublesome users and so on.So far we offer IM on same conditions as the phone. This means we willanswer shorter questions, make quick searches on the internet and so on.

The choice of client and network has also been discussed. We havestarted with Windows Messenger as it is widely used among our patrons.If IM reference turns out to be a success we will of course open for othernetworks such as Goggle Talk (Jabber), Yahoo! and AIM. Hence thechoice of client must also change, it is not practical to use 3-4 differentclients. A runner up is Gaim4 which offers support for a wide range ofprotocols.

4For additional information see: gaim.sourceforge.net

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