Web Services In Understaffed & Underfunded Libraries

Web Services in Understaffed & Underfunded Libraries

Bohyun Kim [email protected] Digital Access Librarian Florida International University, Medical Library http://www.bohyunkim.net/blog http://www.twitter.com/bohyunkim

About Me

Challenges for Solo Web Services Librarians

Web services can mean so many things

LMS

Website

Int rane t

EResources

EZprox y

Reposi tor y

Web Tu tori al s

Mobil e

Link Re sol ve r

IT

Ref erenc e

Sys tem s Librari a n

So ci al Med ia Libra ry Co mp uter La b

Sta ff Tra ining Ins tru cti ona l Te ch no logi e

Web Services = Anything tech-related?

Web = Platform for all

Understaffed / Underfunded is a relative term

Depends on the kind and the scope of work expected

Common Challenges • • • • • • •

Lack of staff Lack of resources Lack of time Expectations vs. Resources Politics Scarce R&D time Need to learn new stuff all the time

Various Issues • • • • • • •

Working with various IT groups Innovation under tight control Network security Server setup Hardware management Web design Programming

Tips for Web Librarians • General • Specific – Website – Intranet – Tools for library staff – Tools for library users – Social media

Identify issues Environmental Scan

Environmental Scan • Learn about your environment – Who does what, how, and where

• Research on your organization – e.g. Univ. IT, School IT, Computer Labs, etc.

• Find out what is happening now – Univ. website makeover, new CMS, etc.

• Potential colleague groups – IT/Web folks, Librarians, Lab managers, etc.

Current Awareness • • • •

Participate Volunteer Network Initiate – Tools: Wiki, Ning, Twitter, Wiggio…

University Twitter Directory

University Web Group

Work with IT they have power

Tips for Web Librarians • General • Specific – Website – Intranet – Tools for library staff – Tools for library users – Social media

Library on the Web Dynamic Dynamic Dynamic

ISSUE: Website Updates slow & heavy control

SOLUTION: Automatic Updates

Example • News updates from blog postings • Resource links from Delicious • Embedded Google Calendar for events • Google Form for quick processing

Tips for Web Librarians • General • Specific – Website – Intranet – Tools for library staff – Tools for library users – Social media

Intranet • • • • •

Tools that are easy and simple to use Tools that help everyday tasks Immediate benefit Free Tools: PB Wiki, Ning, blog Example: – Blog + Email notification for new postings

Tips for Web Librarians • General • Specific – Website – Intranet – Tools for library staff – Tools for library users – Social media

Web Tools for Staff • Google Docs – Simultaneous editing

• Google Form – Quick and easy solution to web forms + simultaneous record keeping

• Intranet Toolbar : Conduit • IM : Office Communicator • Hands-on training => Wide adoption

Tips for Web Librarians • General • Specific – Website – Intranet – Tools for library staff – Tools for library users – Social media

Web Tools for Users • LibX – Library resources on a web browser

• Citation Manager – Refworks, Zotero, Endnote, etc.

• Web conference tools – Dimdim

• Other – Delicious

Tips for Web Librarians • General • Specific – Website – Intranet – Tools for library staff – Tools for library users – Social media

Social Media Content & Interaction

Social Media • • • • • •

Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr Delicious What do your users use?

Plan to Do What is Possible • • • • • • • •

Instructional technologies ERM Computer lab Digital repository … Prioritize Trial and Error Iterate

Thank You!

Questions? Thoughts?