OLJ Assignment: Policy on Internet Use

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

Five Shifts or Trends that Impact Online Behavior: 

1.       The digital environment is far faster than what could be traditional methods of communication and formal information sources (e.g., newspapers, print book publishing).

2.       Access to digital tools is only increasing…it's not just a select few using these tools as it may have been 15 years ago.

3.       Online advertising is reaching a greater amount of people than print or television advertising.

4.       The focus has shifted to creating and sharing knowledge as opposed to a static online environment that did not encourage user contribution.

5.       The sites allow for quicker communication and ways to generate revenue than marketing campaigns that do not utilize online social networking tools

Online Behavior, Adolescents, and Library Policy:

When I think of the need for creating policy regarding digital information, my first thoughts are of how important policy is when working with young people. Within any library setting, but perhaps most importantly, in a school library setting, it is extremely important to define a policy for how these tools can and should be used. The delineations of such policies need to be clear and concise to protect patrons, information professionals, and in within schools, the schools themselves.

When dealing with an adolescent population, for example, it becomes important to remember that regardless of explanation or education regarding the use of the internet and its associated online tools, developmentally, many adolescents are late in developing abstract thinking skills. That is, in many cases it will be nearly impossible for the adolescent with weak or non-existent abstract conceptual skills to understand the ramifications of present behavior on the future. This is not something that can be understood unless the adolescent is physiologically at the developmental point to understand this concept in the abstract. Without this understanding, it becomes of great importance to have guidelines be in place to ensure that these tools are used with the minimal amount of damage possible, in the present and in the future.

Information exposure, cyberbullying, and a host of other difficulties with long lasting ramifications are present to the adolescent. Policy makers must insure that they not only create guidelines that protect the students, but the staff, library, and district (when applicable).

Such policies should include appropriate conduct and the immediate consequences for violation of appropriate online conduct. Yes, it is important to explain why the policies are in place from several perspectives, but in the event that these explanations are minimized or not fully understood, the immediate consequence of violating the guidelines will serve to help prevent adolescents from creating dangerous situations.

OLJ Assignment: Marketing Strategies in the Library

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

Since I have limited exposure to the inner workings of library operations, and marketing in general, I can only speculate on what strategies would be effective. This speculation is based on my general knowledge regarding library functioning, and as such would only be a basic outline of how to approach the creation of an effective marketing strategy. I would imagine that the first step would be to encourage or persuade librarians, library directors, and sources of funding/budgeting of the importance of marketing the library to its current--and perhaps more importantly--potential patrons. The importance of such an endeavor must be agreed upon in order to effectively develop a plan that will reach targeted audiences. The second step would be to assess the library’s needs. This could be accomplished in several ways, including analyzing recent trends within the library and among targeted patrons. Goal assessment, or the anticipated or desired result of marketing efforts would also need to be included. Third, analyzing what has worked in other libraries! I think this is very important. By seeing what has (and what has not) worked in libraries with similar patrons can help avoid bad marketing strategies. The next consideration would be deciding which marketing tools and strategies would be most effective. Again, this can be decided by carefully assessing the targeted audience for the marketing venture and the desired outcome. After defining the scope of a marketing strategy and its targeted audience and potential outcomes, funding and budgeting considerations must be considered including what kind of IT support could or would be necessary to achieve the library’s goals. 

OLJ Assignment: Reasons Why Libraries Should Be On Social Media

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

Below are three reasons why libraries should be on social media: 

·         Tappan Library

·         New City Library

·         Suffern Library

1.)    Patrons are using these sites!

For a variety of reasons (e.g., professional networking, contact with friends and family) library patrons are using social media websites. The time individuals spend using the internet is only increasing, as is the use of social networking websites. Yet, library website use is not increasing in this way. In order to engage patrons, libraries should seek to advertise library events and stay current by utilizing websites like Facebook.

2.)    Social Networking tools are easy to use!

Patrons use these websites because they are an efficient way to connect with others (people, organizations, groups, etc.-). If libraries seek to connect with their patrons, they should not only use these tools, but feature the links to these tools on their webpages. Links to these sites should be easy to find and engaging. Suffern Library, for example, uses Facebook, but the links are not a feature on their website. The Tappan Library has very clear and engaging graphics to all of the social networking tools they employ. Using and featuring these tools on webpages and being active on these sites is an easy way to connect with patrons.

3.)    Receive feedback from library patrons and library staff!

Social Media tools are not only great tools for patrons to stay connected and share ideas with each other (Facebook, Flickr), but they are also wonderful ways to get feedback from patrons and library staff. The New City Library, for example, makes great use of blogs. The library director and several librarians maintain blogs regarding their thoughts on the library. They encourage blog use by patrons and seek feedback on topics. This is a great way to connect patrons to the library, and library staff to what is current among library patrons, making it easier to assess the needs and desires of the library as a whole.

OLJ Assignment: Utecht’s 5 stages of PLN adoption

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

Based on Utecht’s 5 stages of PLN adoption I would say that I am somewhere between Stage 1 (Immersion) and Stage 2 (Evaluation). I have really only begun creating connections via Web 2.0 tools. The exploration of various social networking tools is a direct result of this course. I have gotten involved in the social networking tools that have been outlined as a part of this class. The only networking tool I used before this course was Facebook, and I did not use it regularly. I am still learning about other tools (I have a particular interest in blogs, and have been exploring them for both personal and professional use.  

As a result of my explorations, I am also realizing which tools work best for me. As I engage in their use, I am learning which tools are a good fit for my needs (both personal and professional), my interests and personality. While there are a great many tools out there, I think it is very important to assess what works for you and why, as these tools can seem overwhelming at the least. Forcing one’s self to participate in the use of networking tools that are either not of interest to the user or that do not provide the user with what they are searching for does not bring any benefit and can actually turn an individual away from all social networking tools, which defeats the purpose of these tools as a whole. When the user finds tools that are useful and engaging, he or she will seek out similar tools. That creates a greater amount of learning focused toward one’s interests and goals.

Librarian 2.0 OLJ Assignment

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

In a web 2.0 world and beyond, the 2.0 Librarian should be flexible concerning the specific tools currently being used, as these tools will continue to change and evolve. This creates the needs for these librarians to become comfortable operating outside of what may presently be their comfort zone. Technologies used need to be valued, understood and appreciated by the 2.0 Librarian. The technicians also need to be valued in a collaborative way rather than battled against. In this way, the positive aspects of these merging fields can be utilized to their greatest capacity. 

In addition to understanding and having an appreciation of the various web 2.0 tools, 2.0 librarian need to stay current on the evolving preferences of patrons. These preferences, once understood (which is a continuous process) allows the librarian to attract and patrons and meet their needs and desires.

An openness and curiosity for what will work for patrons is paramount. It is also necessary to understand what will work professionally for all librarians and libraries within a given library system, as these libraries need to work together to plan for all of their patrons as a whole. This is becoming increasingly important as more and more patrons utilize services such as ILL and e-books/video/music etc.-. The 2.0 librarian should immerse his or her self in the use of these technologies, current and evolving trends among patrons and colleagues alike.

Effective Website Design: OLJ Assignment

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

My criteria for effective website design: 

1.)            Engaging home page with easy to access menu features

2.)            Clear links to Web 2.0 features, links library blogs

3.)            Advertising of the use of social media tools

4.)            Advertising of upcoming events and programs, including gaming

5.)            Videos and podcast use (for events, library tools, databases)

6.)            Separate kids/teen/adult webpage/links

7.)            Recommended reading by age group/genre

8.)            Accurate and easy to find/use search boxes

9.)            Facebook/MySpace/twitter/phone app links

10.)          Account accessibility and functionality

Suffern Free Library, Suffern, NY http://www.suffernfreelibrary.org/

The Suffern Free Library’s website: The website will be critiqued here based upon the above criteria.

1.) The library’s website has a clearly designed home page with easy to access menu features. General areas have clear links including: events and exhibits, kids stuff, teens and tweens, books and more, about your library, library account, catalog, and databases.

2.) Under teens and tweens is a link to Book Banter. This page provides links to discussion groups, ebooks/audio/video, teen events and teen reviews.

3.) The search option has a jump menu which includes a link to blogs. Blogs listed include Career Help, Tween’s Blog, We Love to Read, and What’s Up with Ms. Jennifer (the teen librarian). The home page features “What’s New”. This includes the use of text messaging for library holds and due dates. I had difficulty trying to find the advertising of other social media tools like facebook, myspace, or twitter.

4.) I found information on gaming on the home page and under several links, including the teen/tween links.

5.) I could not locate videos or podcasts easily.

6.) The website does have separate pages for various age groups and

7.) recommended reading.

8.) While the search box on the home page is a jump menu, other pages have an open search box 

9.) The only phone links I could find were those on the home page regarding texting.

10.) Account accessibility was easy. Accounts and various databases could be accessed from the home page.

Building Academic Library 2.0: OLJ Assignment--Five Key Points

Shirley Garcia

Student ID #: 11468539

Info 506: Social Networking for Information Professionals

Lyn Hay—Fall 2010

Several good points were brought up during this conference. First comes the understanding that access to information has and continues to develop. This initially was considered web 1.0. Gone are the days in which every reference question needed to be answered within the physical library. While not all information is valid, access is easy with search engines like Google. This, as the video points out, is driving libraries to be competitive. They need to stay on the cutting edge of technology and its use, which is not static. Web 2.0 allows the consumer to become the creator, which is engaging more and more users. In order for libraries to stay relevant, they must integrate these tools in an effective manner. This begins with knowing the user. The patrons of any given library are diverse within their specific needs. What engages one age group or the patrons of one specific library will not engage all. The technology needs vary greatly. 

Knowing these needs is paramount to planning what technologies should be integrated into libraries. Individuals who specialize in these various technologies and library staff need to work together to plan what programs and tools will best serve their population. This partnership can be mutually beneficial and can bring out the most positive aspects and skills of both professions. Further, this partnership is key in insuring that the patrons are served in a secure manner (including protecting patron privacy) without undue worry over the use of technology as a learning tool. While a large grey area exists, as the video explains, attempts at clarifying parameters of the use of these tools will go a long way toward ensuring that the patrons are being served in the most effective manner possible. This will enable libraries of all kinds to stay relevant regardless of what technologies may evolve and develop from web 2.0.