The document discusses how UCD Library is using various Web 2.0 technologies, including UCD Connect, blogs, an audio tour, and instant messaging, to engage with students and provide library services. It describes how each technology is being implemented, lessons learned, and plans for the future, such as mainstreaming instant messaging reference services.

1. UCD Connect & the UCD Library
– partners in communication
With an overview of Web 2.0 applications
in an Irish academic library
~ Diarmuid Stokes & Josh Clark
UCD Li brary Leabharl ann UCD

2. UCD Connect
• The university’s information portal for
students and staff
• Access to email, news, announcements,
weather, administration and IT services,
staff training & development info, etc.
• Items such as announcements targeted to
specific audiences: students, support staff,
academic staff - PERSONALISATION

3. Personalisation
• UCD Connect built on channels in tabbed
environments
• All channels can be minimized, or
maximized to full screen
• Some channels can be turned on/off
• Build custom tabs that can be populated
by various channels
• Group together the information relevant to
YOU

6. Account info,
Change password

7. Arrange your tabs
& channels

8. Create and modify
channels
(restricted access)

9. UCD Library in Connect
• the My Library tab
• High profile!
• Acts as a “second website” for the Library
• Cannot be customised: i.e., channels cannot be
rearranged or turned off
• Links in My Library take you to existing pages on
the Library’s website at www.ucd.ie/library
• Access to Library catalogue, databases, e-
journals, subject portals, news and focus stories,
LIBRARY ACCOUNT, etc.

10. Library account integration
• Seamless integration into Connect
• Talis Keystone software
• Student clicks on link and goes to summary page for his account
• No PIN required – log in to Connect and you log in to the Library!

11. Taking advantage of
personalisation features
• “Subject channels” – mini subject portals
for students
• Link to resources in subject portals on
Library website
• Nice design!
• Dynamic – updated monthly with featured
resources and subject news

12. Title
News feature
Highlighted
resource
Links to subject
portal
resources
Contact and
update details

13. UCD Connect demo

14. The Use of Blogs in UCD
Library
• Began with 2 blogs in 2005:
– UCD Science Library Blog ~
http://ucdscience.blogspot.com
– UCD website diary ~
http://webstrat.blogspot.com
• Purpose: informational (for staff &
students)

15. Diary of changes and amendments to the
Library’s website (for internal use by
Library staff)

16. News, new resource announcements,
library events for science students &
academic staff

17. Current Situation
• New blog set up late January 2007
– Research @ UCD Library ~
http://ucdlibraryresearch.blogspot.com
• Audience: UCD researchers – primarily
postgraduates
• Content: news re: library services for
this group

18. The future
• Reader Services area setting up blog
soon
• A blog index page, complete with RSS
feeds?
• UCD Library branding for consistent
design?
• A blogging policy?

19. Library Audio Tour
Why create a library audio tour?
•Every year thousands of students
introduced to James Joyce Library.
•Need to give as many as possible
introduction to the library
•Size of James Joyce Library
•4 floors
•Study spaces
•Support existing library tours not replace

20. Ideas behind the tour
Decision to make the tour in MP3 format.
Host on website
Students independently able to access the
tour and download to mp3 player
MP3 players available from the Library
admission desk

21. Equipment and Software
Equipment purchased
Mixer Behringer Eurorack UB802
Microphone: Samson C03
Griffin iMic
MP3 Players
Already available
Apple ibook

22. Equipment and Software
Software
Apple Garageband
Apple iTunes
(Both available on the laptop)

23. Creation of Tour
Writing of the tour
• Need to look at library with fresh eyes
• Need to be able to guide newcomer
around the library, get them to where you
want them to go and give them
appropriate information.
• Write script, get new member of staff to
take tour, get feedback, rewrite tour and
repeat.

24. Creation of Tour
Recording
• Need to get the voices right.
• Divide tour into small segments.
• Keep recording segment until right
• Repeat
• Use Garageband software to stitch
segments together.
• Publish with iTunes as MP3 file

25. Making tour available
Technical
Creation of web pages
Purchase MP3 players
Marketing
Creation of posters put up around library
and information points
Large Plasma screen at library entrance.
Library news pages
UCD Connect

26. Success?
Maybe..
Technical pressures meant that the tour
was late in launching
Tours winding down when launched so
demand for the tour not great.
Unable to get figures the website to
determine usage
Techical success.

27. Lessons
Learning curve: software and hardware
Script take longer to get right than you’d
think
Divide up tour into floors
Better MP3 players
Launch earlier and pretest
Nothing stands still.

28. Instant Messaging (IM)
Allows people to talk to each other through
their computers via text or voice.
Not being used in any other academic
library in Ireland
Reader Services initiative

29. Why IM?
Personal familiarity with IM
Obvious high usage of IM in UCD
Moving to an electronic environment, why
not electronic Queries
Something new.

30. The IM Plan
Decided to go with MSN Messenger as it
was quite popular
9 month pilot March-December 2006
Available 6 days a week for up to 9
hours a day
Part of Information Desk rota

31. IM in practice
Mostly UCD users 104 with 10 non-UCD
Usage followed pattern of physical library
use
Queries ranged from the simple (noise
upstairs) to complex subject queries
Lot of positive feedback from local,
national and international users

32. IM concerns
Part of info desk roster work – questions
about sustainability once mainstreamed.
Possibility of abusive messages
Volumes of messages when mainstreamed
Microsoft dependence

33. Future of IM in UCD & beyond
Plan to mainstream IM from Sept 2007
Rethink about staffing, marketing and
technology
Look at platform. Dependence on
Microsoft?
Platform independence.
3 other irish libraries have indicated that
they will go live with IM in the near future

34. Contact Details
UCD Connect, Blogs & audio tour
Josh Clark
Tel: 01-7167646 Joshua.Clark@ucd.ie
Diarmuid Stokes
Tel 01-7166207 Diarmuid.Stokes@ucd.ie
IM
Cathal McCauley
Tel 01-7167695 Cathal.McCauley@ucd.ie