A to Z

The five items I chose are A, F, G, L and T to bring the Library to Web 2.0.

The Riverton Library (http://canning.wa.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=61) is a public library that embraces Web 1.0 and uses it competently.  It offers online access to the catalogue (Amlib) so clients can view and select books online, place reservations for books and renew their loans online.  There are online request forms to obtain interlibrary loans.  There is a bank of fourteen computers that can be reserved for clients to access the internet free and non-clients can pay for access.  They can email notification that a reservation has arrived.  The library is mention in Wikipedia but has no other Web 2.0 presence.

T- text messaging.  Since the library already emails arrival of reservations, texting to mobiles should not be a difficult step to take.  A site like BusinessTechnologyGuide.com.au lists a number of ways of using SMS to mobile phones from computers and some of these are at no extra charge.

G – good reads.  New items received into the library are placed on display and there is a process whereby clients can purchase early one week access to new titles.  Setting up a list of like-authors or creating a list of reviews when selecting exchanges to post as a good read is a reasonable step.

L - LibraryThing.  This could be built up over a period of time to list the permanent collection within the library and as a list to let clients know what is part of the library’s special collection.  In W.A. the public library stock rotates every six weeks and an exchange moves some of the collection from suburb.

F – Facebook.  There are computer savvy people working in the library so setting up a page on Facebook is certainly possible as far as skills are concerned.  It would require a passionate person to promote the idea initially to get is past the administrators.  Since Facebook is free it would require only staff time.

A – Active.  Once Facebook and text messaging have been embraced other social media technologies will seem more enticing.  Setting up a RSS feed for listing new titles placed on LibraryThing and alerting for new social activities within the library are just some of the activities that can be embraced.

Reference

Brown, A.  (2010, January 22). A to Z of social networking for Libraries Posted to http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/2010/01/22/a-to-z-of-social-networking-for-libraries/.