Bookmarks for Reshaping Reference to Fit the Internet Culture

Statistics Sources

• PEW Internet & American Life Project

http://www.pewinternet.org

Many interesting statistics predicting and recording how the Internet is used. Not library-specific. Of specific interest here is the Reports section, and, within it, Internet Penetration reports.



• Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources: A Report to the OCLC Membership

http://www.oclc.org/reports/2005perceptions.htm

Results of a survey of 3,348 respondents, age 14 and older, to an international online survey. The goal was to elxplore people's information seeking behaviors, how familiar they are with the kinds of e-resources libraries provide, and how libraries fit the lives of the respondents. Downloadable in PDF, whole or in parts.



• American Library Association. @ your library: Attitudes Toward Public Libraries Survey 2006 (pdf)

http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/reports/2006KRCReport.pdf

1000 interviews with adults nationwide, ages 18 and older. Not only online. Much less library use, it seems, than in the online group reached by the OCLC study.

Reference Interaction Wisdom

• Marylaine Block. "Reference as a Teachable Moment."
  http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib146.html
  Wonderful article, very worth reading.
  
  
• ALA RUSA Reference Guidelines.
  http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaprotools/referenceguide/guidelinesinformation.htm
  Useful guidelines, frequently recommending some of the methods of this course.

Website Usability

• Jacob Nielsen. Useit.com, Alert Box.

http://www.useit.com/alertbox

Many studies of website usability, ongoing research, by the chief leader in the field. Although he does not write specificaly for library websites, he makes the excellent point that people define their expectations for usability in other websites. Library websites are competing with all types of sites people get conditioned by. Start with "Usability 101" and "Top Ten Mistakes of Web Design." See also the "F-Shaped Reading Pattern."



• Google's "Better Searches. Better Results" handout (pdf)

http://www.google.com/librariancenter/downloads/Tips_Tricks_85x11.pdf

Example of a highly usable handout.

Future Possibilities

• Tim O'Reilly, "What Is Web 2.0: Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software" O'Reilly (Sept 30, 2005)

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html

Key article by one of the founders of the concept of "Web 2.0." Intended for tech audiences, but quite readable.



• Greg Notess, "The Terrible Twos: Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and More" Online, vol. 30, no. 3 (May/June 2006)

http://www.infotoday.com/Online/may06/OnTheNet.shtml

By a librarian famous for making difficult technical issues digestible to librarians. Could be seen as an introduction to the O'Reilly article.



• Numerous blog postings found by searching the web for "Library 2.0" and/or OCLC perceptions report
  
  
• Roy Tennant, "Leading Edge Technologies: An Infopeople Webcast" (January 17, 2006)

http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/01-17-06

By a leading visionary and authority in what the web and the Internet can be and do, a recent talk (with PowerPoint) covering Better Search systems, some Web 2.0 possibilities, meta-searching, and more.



• North Carolina State University Library Catalog
  http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog.
  • Uses the Endeca ProFind™ platform (more info).
• Santa Monica Public Library Catalog
  http://www.smpl.org
  • Uses SIRSI catalog technology.
    
• Aquabrowser Catalog at Kings County Library
  http://www.kcls.org
  • Aquabrowser vendor: MediaLab Solutions - http://www.medialab.nl
    
    

These meta-search tools are not covered in Roy's talk but show two implementations that really exist and work. Roy talks about others under development.

• SFPL cross-database metasearch
  http://search3.webfeat.org/sfpladvsearch.html
• LAPL cross-database metasearch
  http://search3.webfeat.org/la.html
• Thompson-Gale meta-search for databases a library subscribes to (with some annoying ads)
  http://accessmylibrary.com

Reports, Websites, Blogs, and Suggestions for the Future

• Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century. A Public Agenda research report on Americans' attitudes toward libraries (very favorable, overall).
  http://publicagendaonline.com/research/research_reports_details.cfm?list=99
• Web 2.0 and Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software, by Michael Stephens. ALA: Library Technology Reports (July/August 2006).
  http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html
• Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and Librarian 2.0: Preparing for the 2.0 World by Stephen Abram.Sirsi/Dynix OneSource (January 2006).
  http://www.imakenews.com/sirsi/e_article000505688.cfm?x=b6ySQnR,b3B5r7pL
• Urban Libraries Council: Strengthening the Public Library as an Essential Part of Urban Life. Many resources for fee. Worth reading and free (PDF): "The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building." This is about outreach and connecting with the community outside the library.
  
  
• Blogs to watch on keeping libraries up with technology and Internet culture changes
  • The Shifted Librarian by Jenny Levine. One of the most creative minds working on moving public libraries into the future with our users. Search the blog for "libraries 2.0."
    http://www.theshiftedlibrarian.com/
  • Stephen's Lighthouse by Stephen Abram. A visionary imagination with many breakthrough thoughts on libraries, users, and the application of new technologies. Search the blog for "libraries 2.0" or try "web 2.0." Browse the archives.
    http://stephenslighthouse.sirsi.com/
  • Library Marketing-Thinking Outside the Book by Jill Stover. Thoughts from a marketing perspective applied to libraries.
    http://librarymarketing.blogspot.com
    
    
• Library Toolbars
  • Make for free at Effective Toolbars - http://www.effectivebrand.com
  • Read more in links at LibrarianInBlack blog posting on library toolbars
    
    
• Outreach Communications Technology for Roving, Extending Service inside Libraries
  • Vocera - connects library staff within the library by telecommunications options. At Orange County (FL) Library and elsewhere.

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Reshaping Reference to Fit the Internet Culture, Summer/Fall 2006 - This material has been created by Joe Barker for the Infopeople Project [infopeople.org], supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Any use of this material should credit the author and funding source.

For information about training, or using materials found on this website, please contact the Infopeople Project Assistant by email at assist@infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.

© 2008 Infopeople Project. Material on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. The Infopeople Project is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.