Web 2.0: Developing a Successful eBranch

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(An Infopeople Online Learning Course)
2 sessions: April 3, 2007 - Apr 30, 2007 or
Jun 19, 2007 - Jul 16, 2007

Libraries worldwide are experiencing increasing demand on their websites-requests for more content, more services, and more resources. The advent of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 has hastened this process. Whether being asked by users or told by administrators, library staff are having to hustle to quickly absorb, self-educate, plan, and implement the many new technologies that are expected from them. If you haven't had the chance to keep up with technologies like wikis, podcasting, RSS, and the like—and implement them in your library successfully—then this online course is a way for you to not only catch up, but to walk away with the knowledge and tools you need. This is an exciting time for libraries, and this class will help libraries get a head start on building a thriving eBranch.

Workshop Description: This four-week online learning course will provide class members with the knowledge and tools necessary to create a content-rich, self-sufficient library branch online—the eBranch. During the course, class members will be looking at examples of successful library eBranch elements, participating in online discussion forums, and testing out a few of the Library 2.0 technologies that contribute to a good eBranch. Topics covered include blogs, wikis, RSS, instant messaging, MySpace, Flickr, online outreach, podcasting, vidcasting, and making the case for the importance of investing in a robust eBranch. The instructor will provide information on the tools themselves, examples of successful library uses of these technologies, and tips and tricks for quick and successful implementation of the various technologies. Class members will return to their libraries with the necessary skills and a checklist of tasks to turn their library websites into thriving eBranches.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:

  • Module One: Quick Web Content
    • Introduction to the eBranch, Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and Librarian 2.0
    • Blogs
    • Wikis
    • RSS
  • Module Two: Reaching Beyond Your Virtual Web Borders
    • Instant messaging
    • MySpace and other social networking sites
    • Gaming
  • Module Three: Multimedia
    • Flickr and other image resources
    • Podcasting
    • Vidcasting
  • Module Four: Administrative Necessities
    • Other odds and ends of successful eBranches
    • Online outreach
    • Technology planning
    • Making the case

Fee: Thanks to a special LSTA grant award from the California State Library, Infopeople is able to offer this workshop to the California library community free of charge.

Online Learning Details:
This four-week course will be taught online using the web. When you register, you will receive a registration confirmation that will include the URL to get to the course, as well as a username and password.

Every student proceeds through the online learning modules at his or her own pace. Students should expect to commit to spending a minimum of 2 to 2½ hours per week on this course in order to be successful. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, you will be expected to log in to the course each week to do that week's assignment. We ask that you log in sometime during the first week of the course to begin the course work.

Your instructor will be available for limited consultation support for two weeks after the official end date of a course, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that, to give those who have fallen behind time to work independently on the course. However, you will be expected to accomplish the majority of the course in synchronization with your peers during the first four weeks.

Who Should Take This Course: This course will be of use to anyone within the library community interested in learning more about the elements of a successful library website, utilizing the best of Library 2.0 for the benefit of our users, and using free tools to make the most of the library's online presence. This course is especially appropriate for library webmasters, technology and reference librarians, staff who contribute to the library's web presence, and management.

Prerequisites:
This course is taught over the web. You must:

  • Have an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.
  • Be able to save Microsoft Word .doc or Adobe .pdf files to your computer and print them out. (For .doc files, a free Word Viewer is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en. Search for "Word Viewer." For .pdf files, a free Adobe Acrobat Reader is available at http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html).
  • Be comfortable navigating on the web and navigating back and forward on a website that uses frames.
  • Be comfortable with creating accounts with and submitting content to online service providers.
  • This is not a course for technology novices.

System Requirements: The online learning product that Infopeople uses is called Angel. The following are minimum system requirements for using Angel. You will need access to a computer that has at least these specifications to participate in an online course:

  • Windows:
    • Internet Explorer 6.0 and above, Netscape 7.1 and above, or Firefox 1.5 and above
  • Macintosh:
    • Mozilla 1.4 and above (which is the same engine as Netscape 7.1), Safari 2.0 and above, or Firefox 1.5 and above
    • OS X and above (OS 9 will NOT work with our online learning product)

If you are not comfortable with any of the above, please consider taking this course with a colleague who does meet these requirements.

Course Start: This four-week-long online learning course starts on April 3, 2007.

Available for contracting: 
No