Tag: library

pimp my library

Posted on by jessamyn

Do you ever watch that weird TV show Pimp My Ride where people bring in their lame old cars and get them tricked out in these crazy unbelievable ways? I read this article by Stephen Manes about the glories of libraries; he concludes by saying

My biggest complaint is that some libraries’ Web sites don’t detail the amazing range of services they offer online until you cough up a card number. Memo to those insular institutions: Put the info in the shop windows out front and I bet you’ll see a lot more card-carrying customers walking through the electronic doors.

I’ve got an idea….

Pimp My Library would take some ratty old library with an outdated web site, half-busted computers, no good YA room and terrible signage and trick it out to a level suitable for a modern-day information crossroads. Librarians and other staff would be forced to take the day off under the guide of professional development and would be returned to a sparkling new ergonomic and fashionable workplace with accessible standards-compliant web site. We’d still call the library. It can be done. Maybe we’d need to call the show something else though. Side note: Manes mentions an error in Wikipedia’s personal computer entry. Someone with a sense of humor has since fixed the error, all in the last three days. [thanks mark, rick]

British Medical Association library also affected in London blast

Posted on by jessamyn

The British Medical Association and their library have some information on their web site about how their operations have been affected by the bombing of last week. Here is a first person account of someone who was in the British Library after they had secured the building. The library had wifil, so he was able to alert family and friends that he was okay.

British Library

Posted on by jessamyn

The British Library is quite near to King’s Cross station and I’m sure many people are concerned for their welfare in addition to the many others affected by today’s tragedy. They posted a brief update to their main page, which I think is something that all libraries should be able to do in case of an emergency. Apparently they locked the building down. Oddly this isn’t the only story about the British Library with the word tragedy in the headlines today. A British Library spokesperson had this to say:

“Kings Cross and Euston is cordoned off. “Police have advised us strongly that people stay where they are. There are staff and readers inside. We don’t know if we will be open tomorrow. We are discussing contingency plans.”

Update: The British Library has an update on their services available today here.

26 steps for effective web presence in libraries

Posted on by jessamyn

Michael and the Librarian in Black have each posted their lists of Ten [Alternative for LiB] Steps to Effective Web Presence for Libraries. Here is my short list that builds on these, with particular attention to what I’ve learned from the web site building process in Vermont.

  1. Be accessible. If your public library web site doesn’t work for some of your users, it doesn’t work. This means visually impaired, cognitively impaired, new, and old-time users. This means ALT tagging images, using clean code, not using fixed font sizes or tables for anything that isn’t tabular data and a lot more. Crunch the numbers from your web site stats to see who is using the site, and how. Investigate which parts of the site get traffic, and which don’t. If your vendors aren’t creating web content with this in mind, apply pressure, lots of it.
  2. Be human. The web site is open more hours than the library and is a location on its own as well as being a representation of the library. Use photos to make the digital more recognizable. Give patrons ways to interact with the library [link link link to new programs, events, building news, board of trustee meetings, press releases and employee news] in the way they are comfortable with [email, IM, Skype, blog comments, mail form…] Bring the web site into the library in addition to bringing the library to the web site. Make your library web site the home page on your public access computers, or make a simple version that takes users to most-used sites.
  3. Be honest. The library web site can not and will not do all the things that patrons and staff and trustees want it to do, nor should it. Make sure you have a clear web site purpose and communicate that purpose both through actions and words. If the site doesn’t do something, say why it doesn’t and whether that idea is “in the hopper” or not part of the web site vision. If it’s a money issue, say that, if it’s a staffing issue, say that. Let your mission statement guide the site and try to overcome obstacles when it can’t.
  4. Be inclusive. Your library web site is part of an online community and an offline community. You need to interact with local businesses and people and events the same way you link to sites on the web. Allow public feedback on the site and respond publicly. We can’t all edit the library web site, but we can all be part of the process. Use community members as advisors in content areas. Do user testing. If your library has a blog, comment on other library blogs. If your library uses Flickr, upload some photos to some of the library groups and make contact with other libraries. Your web site should do things that a handout or flyer can’t do.
  5. Be an advocate. Think about new technology in terms of your users and apply it when it’s appropriate. You are the professional and you should be able to both respect the traditions of your institution at the same time as you investigate new directions and try some things out. Every web site addition isn’t necessarily going to stay in the collection for 100 years, experiment and take a few risks, remembering to communicate what you’re doing as you’re doing it.

I’m not longer at the Rutland Free Library, but I tried to bring some of these ideas to the site I designed for them.