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Library 2.0 Tools
1. Goodreads - www.goodreads.com
In their words: "Goodreads is the largest social network for readers in the world. We have over 1,900,000 members who have added over 44,000,000 books to their shelves. A place for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads members recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in December 2006."
Cost: Free.
Benefits to libraries:
In their words: "Goodreads is the largest social network for readers in the world. We have over 1,900,000 members who have added over 44,000,000 books to their shelves. A place for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads members recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in December 2006."
Cost: Free.
Benefits to libraries:
- Goodreads can greatly assist with RA, both as a tool for you to use and also a great place to direct patrons to.
- Developing a Goodreads group for library book groups is a free and easy way to provide attendees with information about the discussions as well as a platform for discussion outside of the actual event.
- A library presence on Goodreads encourages networking through reading - what could be better than that?
Making it work:
Genre X continues to build a Goodreads group that spans the country, giving those in our demographic who cannot attend a discussion the opportunity to read along with us.
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2070.genre_X
2. Flickr - www.flickr.com
In their words: "Flickr - almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world."
Cost: Free for a basic account. An upgrade to a Pro account costs $24.95 for one year.
Benefits to libraries:
- A library flickr account can help build a digital archive of events, displays and/or general accomplishments that anyone can view.
- Sharing photos and/or videos on flickr is a great way to network with other libraries.
Making it work:
The Libraries and Librarians flickr group currently has over 2,500 members and over 24,000 items in its group pool.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/librariesandlibrarians/
3. Facebook - www.facebook.com
In their words: "Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet."
Cost: Free.
Benefits to libraries:
The Libraries and Librarians flickr group currently has over 2,500 members and over 24,000 items in its group pool.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/librariesandlibrarians/
3. Facebook - www.facebook.com
In their words: "Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet."
Cost: Free.
Benefits to libraries:
- Facebook is yet another free PR tool for libraries. You can use your library's Facebook page to advertise everything from reference databases to library events. You can also upload your photos directly to your Facebook profile.
- By creating specific Event listings you can notify Facebook users directly about upcoming events. The RSVP feature assists event planners with determining how many people may be planning on coming to your event.
Making it work:
Brooklyn Public Library has over 1,700 fans and is taking full advantage of Facebook to promote their services and programs.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-NY/Brooklyn-Public-Library/8544515249
Hennepin County Library developed a Facebook application that allows patrons to search their OPAC straight from their Facebook profiles.
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?sid=f5efd8ffdff40e9f37ecc166682afce9&init=q&sf=r&k=40000000020&n=-1&q=library%20catalog#/apps/application.php?id=2353074921&ref=s
4. LibraryThing - www.librarything.com
In their words: "LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere—even on your mobile phone. Because everyone catalogs together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and so forth."
Cost: Free for up to 200 books. $15 a year for up to 5,000 books.
Benefits to libraries:
Brooklyn Public Library has over 1,700 fans and is taking full advantage of Facebook to promote their services and programs.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-NY/Brooklyn-Public-Library/8544515249
Hennepin County Library developed a Facebook application that allows patrons to search their OPAC straight from their Facebook profiles.
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?sid=f5efd8ffdff40e9f37ecc166682afce9&init=q&sf=r&k=40000000020&n=-1&q=library%20catalog#/apps/application.php?id=2353074921&ref=s
4. LibraryThing - www.librarything.com
In their words: "LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere—even on your mobile phone. Because everyone catalogs together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and so forth."
Cost: Free for up to 200 books. $15 a year for up to 5,000 books.
Benefits to libraries:
· Fully integrate LibraryThing's social data into your catalog using LibraryThing for Libraries. LTFL lets you add tag-based browsing, book recommendations, ratings, reviews and more to your OPAC.
· Use a LibraryThing widget to display new books or featured books on your library's website. You'll have to create a LibraryThing account, and add the books to it.
· Small libraries can use LibraryThing to as a catalog for their collection.
Making it work:
LibraryThing offers an extensive listing of all of the libraries that are currently taking advantage of their services.
http://www.lv.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/LTFL:Libraries_using_LibraryThing_for_Libraries
5. Twitter - twitter.com
In their words: "Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"
Cost: Free.
Benefits to libraries:
· Twitter offers libraries the chance to provide patrons with a constant stream of information regarding the latest library news.
· Librarians who Twitter about their conference and continuing education experiences outside of the library have an opportunity to share in their excitement with their colleagues who aren't able to attend.
Making it work:
Lindy Brown, an MLIS student at Florida State University's College of Information, wrote this incredibly detailed article for a class in the Fall of 2008 about Twittering Libraries. 65 libraries responded to her survey about how they are using Twitter.
http://lis5313.ci.fsu.edu/wiki/index.php/Twittering_Libraries
6. Meetup.com - www.meetup.com
In their words: "Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities."
Cost: Free to be a member. In order to start a Meetup group and become a Meetup organizer, there is a monthly fee involved ($12 for 6 months, $15 for 3 months, or $19 a month).
Benefits to libraries:
· Meetup offfers a relatively low cost method of establishing an online presence for library groups, especially those that may not be book centric.
· Some features include automatic event notification, mailing lists, message boards/places for comments, photo albums, and polls.
· Meetup organizers are equipped with the ability to control how many people can attend an event through RSVPs and waiting lists.
Making it work:
Durham County Library's genteXt group developed shortly after genre X. They began promoting their discussions through a blog, but quickly ended it in favor of Meetup.
http://www.meetup.com/Durham-genteXt/
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me:
Mandy McGee
Manager, Adult and Teen Services
Oak Park Public Library
mmcgee@oppl.org
708-452-3450
mmcgee@oppl.org
708-452-3450
