How can libraries use web based tools to
market their services, educate their patrons,
and provide value added services?
Amy Watts
Robin Fay
Presentation online at:
http://fay.myweb.uga.edu/projects/blogs/como.ppt
OVERVIEW
News & Events
 Blog : A Wordpress blog
 RSS feeds via the blog
Web forms in the Libraries Catalog (GIL)
 Report and Error and other web based forms
Web Presences for internal & external customers
 Departmental pages & procedures manuals
Briefly about blogs
What is a blog ?
Briefly, a blog (short for weblog) is a web based publication which is
updated in a periodic manner. The goal of blogging is to provide an
easy means to put content on the web. Most modern blogging
software functions very similar to word processor software. When
you see this icon (think of satellite transmission beams), you know
you are seeing a live site which is updating via a feed.
Briefly about blogs
…and why would a library want one?
Libraries use blogs to promote events & services, provide access to
up-to-date information about building issues (special hours, etc.),
highlight new databases, and communicate a variety of information
from readings to exhibits to new features in the catalog! Users can
subscribe to ‘feeds’ via their phones, pdas, special web based
reader services, as well as internet browsers and e-mail programs
such as Firefox and Thunderbird to get the latest up to date
information.
Briefly about blogs
Chart permission of blogswithoutalibrary.net
Beginnings of The Libraries “Blog”
UGA Libraries WAG (Web Advisory Group)
which works with the Web Editor in oversight
and maintenance of the UGA Libraries webpage,
charged a subcommittee to investigate blog
software as means of keeping our users up to
date on Libraries news & events. Not only did
we want to add some dynamic content to our
website, but we needed another means to push
information to our users.
Beginnings of The “Blog”
This subcommittee investigated many different
blog softwares including
• Blogger (Free, Commercial, with ads)
• Expression Engine/PMachine (Paid,
Commercial)
• Movable Type (Paid, Commercial)
• WordPress (Free, Open Source)
Desired features
Yes
• Inexpensive
• Easy to use
• Categories
• Multiple users with levels
• Easily configured, support for
CSS
Nos
• Contracts/subscriptions
• Preferably ad free
• Coding experience or
considerable training needed for
contributors
Blogger
Pros
Cons
• Free
• Ad oriented
• No installation
• No categories
• Easy to use, one push publishing
• No control over URL address
•Limited ability to customize
display
Blogger examples
Who is using it (a brief sampling)
Google Blog
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/finding-wealth-in-yourlibrary-and.html
Georgia Perimeter College at Decatur
http://gpcdecaturlrc.blogspot.com/
Marion County Free Library
http://www.marincountyfreelibrary.blogspot.com/
Blogger User interface
Blogger example
Blogger
Expression Engine/PMachine
Pros
Cons
• Very professional
• Expensive
• Good Tech support
• Contract based
• Categories & subcategories
• Support multiple users with
varying degrees of authority
• Easily supports a blog within a
blog
• PHP database installation
needed, Server
PMachine/Expression Engine
Who is using it (a brief sampling)
Lannom Public Library
http://www.lannom.org/
Douglas County Libraries
http://www.douglascountylibraries.org/blogs/
Expression Engine User interface
Expression
Engine
Movable Type/Typepad
Pros
Cons
• Very professional
• Expensive
• Good Tech support
• Contract based
• Categories & subcategories
• PHP database installation
needed, Server
• Support multiple users with
varying degrees of authority
• Support multiple blogs
Movable Type/Typepad
Who is using it (a brief sampling)
University of Colorado, Bookends
http://library.coloradocollege.edu/bookends/
Washington University in St. Louis
http://wulibraries.typepad.com/
University of Minnesota (U Think)
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/
Movable Type Example
Movable Type Example
Movable
Type Example
Movable
Type/Typepad
WordPress
Pros
Cons
• Categories & subcategories
including separate pages (mini
blog eseque)
• Tech support mostly nonexistent
but relies heavily on user forums
• Support multiple users with
varying degrees of authority
• Multiple blogs are available as
separate installations although
pages can provide some
customization and organization
• CSS based and easy to
customize
• PHP database installation, Server
• Open Source & “free”
• Open Source & “free”
WordPress
Who is using it
• ACRL
http://www.acrlblog.org/
• Auburn University Library
http://www.lib.auburn.edu/whatsnew/
•University of Alberta Libraries
http://blogs.library.ualberta.ca/libnews/
Wordpress
Movable
TypeExample
Example
Movable
Type Example
Movable
Type/Typepad
Just to recap. Desired features
Yes
• Inexpensive
Nos
• Contracts/subscriptions
• Preferably ad free
• Easy to use
• Categories
• Multiple users with levels
• Easily configured, support for
CSS
• Coding experience or
considerable training needed for
contributors
And the winner is WordPress!
WordPress fit our most basic criteria, and in July 2005, the UGA
Libraries went live with our first blog.
•25 Blog Reporters
• including a representative from every department
• a collective average of a post a day
•Design
• Keep the look of the main site through coding CSS
• No open comments box but a
• Link to a web editor mailbox. Of the 3000+ comments we have
received in the last 6 months, 99% of them are spam (we’ve
received 1 legitimate comment).
And the winner is WordPress!
Go Live
So, let’s check it out! Behind the scenes….
Write here
Schedule news
to post…
News from
WordPress,
especially
UPGRADES!
Go Live
So, let’s check it out! Behind the scenes…. Writing a post.
The title corresponds to the
headline on the main page and is
also what displays in RSS
readers.
Note: We also have pre-selected
categories for our writers to
chose.
Go Live
The title corresponds to the
headline on the main page and is
also what displays in rss
and more stuff…. Which all ends up
readers.
in the blog.
Note we also have re-selected
categories for our writers to
chose.
Go Live
Title
And the winner is WordPress!
Categories
Go Live
Our RSS Feed from the blog
is captured here.
RSS feeds
So what is a feed?
RSS stands for (depending on who you ask)
•Really Simple Syndication
•Rich Site Summary
•Basically, websites collect their stories and ‘send’ them out to
various readers
• A reader is a software that allows a user to view (and
sometimes hear or see) headlines, summaries, complete
stories, etc.
•Examples of ‘readers’ include Firefox (live bookmarks),
bloglines, newsgator, pluck, etc.
•Think of RSS as the newspaper or the morning news you
listen to. Each day is fresh, and the content is available to you.
All you have to do is open the gateway (a newspaper, the tv,
computer, radio, etc.)
In firefox, the rss feed will
display as an orange icon
in the address bar.
To pick up a feed, click on
the little orange icon.
Go Live
RSS feeds
By subscribing, you
will receive the latest
headlines linked from
your bookmark.
RSS feeds: how to read
Bloglines is a website to login to read news;
Newsgator integrates with outlook;
Thunderbird has built in capability
http://www.newsgator.com/home.aspx
Thunderbird News Reader
So, you’ve got your blog all set up… now what?
First, it starts with the participants aka writers.
• You need at least one person who is willing to write regularly.
• You may or may not need ground rules and writing/style guides (we
did!).
• You may or may not need to do training sessions (we did).
• An editor of sorts is also necessary.
Contributors
Bringing in Contributors:
Make them stakeholders. Emphasize that almost every department
is doing something interesting or has something important to say to
your patrons. They don’t want to be left out!
And once one department starts posting frequently, the fun really
begins … they can’t help but be competitive.
Training
Give them hands-on training and back it up with accessible training
materials. We did a handout and put the same contents of the
handout online. (www.libs.uga.edu/blogetc/)
Also be sure to give them a human they can contact with
questions/problems.
Marketing
“Look what we’ve got”
• Events/programs/exhibits – events can have home page exposure
and can also be archived, when they rotate off the home page
• Collections – Again, highly visible announcement of acquisitions
and addition to the archive
• Electronic Resources – Avoid new databases getting buried in
GALILEO. Highlight digital collections.
Additional Challenges
What should the blog look like? Does it need to maintain the look of
other pages already on the site, or should it be distinctive?
How much real estate on the main page? And where will it be?
We have the happy problem now of so many posts that people want to
see more headlines on the front page!
Making sure your blog doesn’t die – needs continuous care and
feeding.
Next steps and challenges
• Most pressing, is to identify a better means of collecting statistics.
There are plug-ins for WordPress statistics, which we are currently
testing and evaluating. Out of the box, WordPress has very poor
statistics collection. The Libraries website statistical information, while
does not seem to be as good at tracking in-depth blog statistics.
• Testing pages to provide a more unique blog experience for special
collections.
•A better workflow for doing upgrades. As WordPress is Open Source
there is no one official tech support and no notice of new upgrades.
However, there is a mailing list for notification.
Moving on to other tools
Possibly not as exciting as blogging, but a ‘classic’ in terms of
communication via the web
HTML web forms (such as contact forms) are used in a variety of places
including
• within the Libraries catalog, GIL
• on departmental and service related webpages
Examples include Ask a Question via email, Report an Error (in the
catalog), suggest a purchase, request a classroom session,
request software training, and collecting internal statistics
Other uses of web tools
The basic web form
• Has been incorporated into the libraries catalog so that it
integrates seamlessly with the user experience providing them a
means to request newly received material be rush processed,
report errors or other discrepancies/questions, and request
materials from the Repository, an off campus storage
•The Libraries’ Report an Error Form was used as the model for the
Universal Catalog Report an Error Form. JavaScript builds the links
at the bottom of the GIL Catalog page and php wraps around the
html form to capture information about the record the patron is
viewing.
Other uses of web tools
In 2005, 321 errors/questions were reported by Libraries staff &
faculty, UGA faculty & students, and visitors.
Not only has the form provided an easy way for Library staff to
communicate with each other (much of the information is
captured automatically from the screen) but it provides a quick
means of identifying problems in the catalog…
among them….
Other uses of web tools
Some errors/questions reported
• No error. I just want to know what “discharged” means. Is the
book on the shelf or not? – a patron
• There is a typo in one of the subject heading dates – should not
be 1957. – a patron
• Do we really have 2 copies of this and is one still in the In process
collection? Or do we really only 1 copy and the Inprocess one
should be merged? Or do we have 2 copies and the In Process
once should be made copy 2? – library staff
Other uses of web tools
Other examples of web based forms linked to the Libraries’ catalog
• Request a book from the Repository: While in the Libraries’
catalog, GIL, if you want a book which is located at the offsite
storage facility (Repository), you can request it from a form in the
catalog.
• Rush Catalog: Request a newly acquired material which is still in
the queue
Other uses of web tools
Other examples of web tools include
• Coldfusion: Database software which drives the Libraries’ Staff
Directory, EndNote instructional materials, Reference instructional
materials, and others in progress
• Instant Messaging: Used by Reference
Other uses of web tools
Departmental pages
• In addition to our external customers, we all serve internal
customers. Each department in the Libraries’ maintains a web
presence with information such as
• Hours, phone numbers, and/or staff directories
• Information about the services provided and what the
department does
• Links to resources and services, both for internal and
external customers such as
• Large full-scale portals such as the Digital Library of
Georgia
• Reference Guide, Ask a Question and BI Forms
• Online Resources for Catalogers
• Policies and Procedures online (Acquisitions, Cataloging)
Q&A
• How many of you are using web tools (contact forms, etc.) or blogs
to increase communication between your library and your users?
• What have been your experiences? Is it successful?
Software Cited
Blogger (Blog software/service)
http://www.blogger.com
Bloglines (RSS reader)
www.bloglines.com/
Firefox (Web browser & RSS reader)
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Movable Type & Typepad (Blog software/service)
http://www.movabletype.org/
Newsgator (RSS reader)
http://www.newsgator.com/home.aspx
PMachine/Expression Engine (Blog software/service)
http://www.pmachine.com/
Thunderbird (Email &RSS reader)
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
WordPress (Blog software)
http://wordpress.org/
Websites Cited
ACRL (Wordpress)
http://www.acrlblog.org/
Auburn University Library (Wordpress)
http://www.lib.auburn.edu/whatsnew/
Douglas County Libraries (Pmachine)
http://www.douglascountylibraries.org/blogs/
Georgia Perimeter College at Decatur (Blogger)
http://gpcdecaturlrc.blogspot.com/
Google Blog (Blogger)
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/finding-wealth-in-your-libraryand.html
Lannom Public Library (Pmachine)
http://www.lannom.org/
Libraries News & Events (Wordpress)
http://www.libs.uga.edu/blog/
Websites Cited
Libraries Cataloging Department Procedures Manual
http://www.libs.uga.edu/catalog/
Libraries SLC & Reference Wiki
http://lotus.libs.uga.edu:3455/4/Home
Marion County Free Library (Blogger)
http://www.marincountyfreelibrary.blogspot.com/
University of Alberta Libraries (Movable Type)
http://blogs.library.ualberta.ca/libnews/
University of Colorado, Bookends (Movable Type)
http://library.coloradocollege.edu/bookends/
University of Minnesota (U Think) (Movable Type)
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/
Washington University in St. Louis (Movable Type/Typepad)
http://wulibraries.typepad.com/
Articles
11 reasons why Library 2.0 exist and matter, blyberg.net,
http://www.blyberg.net/2006/01/06/11-reasons-why-library-20-exists-andmatters/
Blog training for UGA Libraries, Amy Watts, www.libs.uga.edu/blogetc/
Blog overview for UGA Libraries, Robin Fay, (Appendix A),
http://fay.uga.edu/projects/blogoverview.pdf
Blogging Libraries Wiki
http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/index.php?title=Welcome_to_the_B
logging_Libraries_Wiki
Market your library with a blog, James LaMee,
http://www.associates.ucr.edu/705flam.html
Weblogs Compedium
http://www.lights.com/weblogs/hosting.html
Why and how to use blogs to promote your libraries services, Darlene
Fitcher, http://www.infotoday.com/MLS/nov03/fichter.shtml
More on RSS
Bloglines (RSS reader)
www.bloglines.com/
Firefox (Web browser & RSS reader)
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
How to add a live bookmark/rss feed in Firefox
http://johnbokma.com/firefox/rss-and-live-bookmarks.html
Newsgator (RSS reader)
http://www.newsgator.com/home.aspx
RSS News you choose (C NET)
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10088_7-5143656-1.htm
Thunderbird (Email &RSS reader)
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
What Wikipedia history and definitions of rss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)
Presentation info
Contact info
Robin Fay, fay@uga.edu
Amy Watts, amywatts@uga.edu
Presentation:
http://fay.myweb.uga.edu/projects/blogs/como.ppt
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