This document discusses creating a Web 2.0 toolbox for academic libraries. It defines Web 2.0 as software that improves based on user participation and allows data sharing and remixing. The document outlines how libraries can use various Web 2.0 technologies like blogs, wikis, social networking, widgets and multimedia tools to offer reference services, promote collections, encourage collaboration and save costs. Specific free and open source tools are provided for tasks like screen capturing, website design, hosting images and videos.

1. Creating a Web 2.0 Toolbox for
the Academic Library
MAINE ACADEMIC LIBRARIES CONFERENCE
APRIL 17, 2009

2. What is Web 2.0?
“Web 2.0 is the network as platform, spanning all
connected devices; Web 2.0 applications are those that
make the most of the intrinsic advantages of that
platform: delivering software as a continually-updated
service that gets better the more people use
it, consuming and remixing data from multiple
sources, including individual users, while providing
their own data and services in a form that allows
remixing by others, creating network effects through an
quot;architecture of participation,quot; and going beyond the
page metaphor of Web 1.0 to deliver rich user
experiences.”
Tim O’Reilly, O’Reilly Media, Inc.

3. Or, to put it another way…
 “Web 2.0 is made of people!” 1
 “Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of the
Web, which enables people with no specialized technical
knowledge to create their own websites, to self-
publish, create and upload audio and video files, share
photos and information and complete a variety of other
tasks.” 2
 “One of those quot;coolquot; terms that is batted around with
little definition. It refers to the “second generation”
Web, today’s WWW that is more interactive and
participatory than the Web used to be…” 3

4. Web 2.0 technologies can offer
 Ready access
 Ease of use
 Opportunities for collaboration
 Cost-savings
 Dynamic web presence

5. The evolution of library reference…

6. Lots of options for IM and Text…

7. …and one chat client to rule them all

8. askrefmill:your message here

9. How it all comes together…

10. A simpler alternative…
Just AIM
AIM account
1.
AIM Wimzi widget
2.
AIM 265010 for text
3.

11. Screencasts
A [screen capture or screencast] is worth a thousand words

12. Jing: Screen Capture

13. Jing: Screencast

14. Blogs, Microblogs & Wikis
blog blȯg, bläg noun, short for Weblog:
a Web site that contains an online personal journal with
reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by
the writer
wi·ki wi-kē noun, WikiWikiWeb:
a Web site that allows visitors to make changes, contributions, or
corrections
Source:
quot;blog.quot; Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.
Merriam-Webster Online. 14 April 2009
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blog>
quot;wiki.quot; Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.
Merriam-Webster Online. 14 April 2009
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiki>

15. Think outside the blog
Applications
 General publicity
 Highlighting specific resources & collections
 Content management system
 Staff communication
Examples
 Ann Arbor District Library
 MADreads, Madison Public Library
 The Troy Library
 Miller Reference & Circulation Blog
 Library of Congress on Twitter
Tools
 Wordpress
 Blogger
 Twitter and Twitter Search

16. Wikis
Applications
 Subject guides
 Policy & procedure manuals
 Knowledge bases
Examples
 The Ohio University Libraries Biz Wiki
 Maine Academic Libraries Wiki
Tools
 Wikispaces
 PBWiki

17. Social Networking
Applications
 Marketing the library
 Creating a sense of community
 Adding patron-generated content
 Gathering feedback
 Expanding your web presence
Tools & Examples
 Facebook
University of Maine, Fogler Library Facebook Page

Stanford University, Green Library Ad

 Flickr
 Dewey Library Blog
 Library of Congress Photo Stream on Flickr
 Westmont PL Flickr Stream: New Books
 Celebrate Banned Books Week at Hatcher Graduate Library, University of Michigan
 Delicious

18. Widgets
Applications & Examples
 Embedding applications
Chat Widgets

RSS Feeds

Catalog or Database Searches

 Maximizing your web “real estate”
 BlidgetPro
 SproutBuilder Example
Tools
 Widgetbox
 Sprout
 Share This

19. Web Design & Content
Tools
 Website design
Weebly

Mobisitegalore.com

ColourLovers.com

 Images
 WikiMedia Commons
 Google Images
 Flickr
 Open ClipArt Library
 Openphoto.net
 GIMP 2.6
 Audio
 Freesound Project
 Audacity
 Video
 Archive.org, Moving Images
 Microsoft Movie Maker
 Apple iMovie
 YouTube
 Vimeo

20. Updating & Expanding Your Toolbox
 Lifehacker
 Mashable
 GO2WEB20
 LibWorm

21. A few of my current favorite things
 Lovely Charts
 Dropbox
 Prezi
 LibGuides
Please share some of yours!
http://maineacademiclibraries.wikispaces.com