Week 6 Post - My Space and Facebook

Do you think libraries should be building presence and providing services in MySpace and/or Facebook? Why or why not? (Tags = blogpostwk6, blogpostwk6n1)

In a short answer, yes. Most librarians and educators may not like it, but the fact of the matter is that the face to face point of interaction is dying with the physical book. People don't interact like that anymore when they're looking for something. They'd rather find the information online. People will always ask questions, and they will always look to someone or something for help, and google or any other search engine will never be good enough to answer all of those questions. That's why libraries need to build themselves online through websites, facebook, twitter, and myspace, or whatever other social media site is out there. That's how libraries will start to find ways to provide services. The medium of communication is changing and libraries need to change with it, or risk becoming obsolete. There is no point to having a library and the world's most extensive and reliable databases and archive systems if we can't get that information into the hands of those who need it.

Worse still, there are already online interactive reference services out there, but those are PAID services. The last thing the people need is to find that they have to PAY for the kind of services they used to get for free. This will serve to marginalize people who don't have the money even more than ever before. Our job as librarians is to defend and uphold the people's right to know; that has always been our mission. The internet and social media in particular is the new battlefield for our struggle, and if we lose, in the end, the people lose.

Week 5 Post - RSS

How can librarians get their patrons to use RSS and/or understand the benefits of it? (Tags = blogpostwk5,blogpostwk5n3)

One way is to start offering short classes in the use of internet appliances such as tablets, and use that as a platform for teaching patrons about RSS. Some libraries are starting to provide tablets that can be checked out at the desk for use in reading newspapers and periodicals. If personal account logins on the tablets could be set up, it might make it possible for patrons to set up personal RSS feeds to recover the information they're specifically interested in following, right on the tablets themselves. By doing this, you can highlight the benefits of a much more dynamic, simple, and efficient way of finding the news articles and points of interest that they are most concerned with. Once patrons recognize the benefits of this, it becomes easier for them to adopt RSS feeds as a means of following news.

Another way, and also one that will no only save money, but also time, would be to phase out physical periodicals whenever possible and get an institutional digital subscription to replace them. Patrons may complain at first, but once they realize there's little choice, they generally make the transition.

What's the use of twitter?

 How can you envision using Twitter in a library or other information organization? (Tags = blogpostwk4, blogpostwk4n2)

Twitter can be used as an excellent way to interact with patrons in terms of information queries. If a patron was to look for resources regarding a given subject, twitter can be highly effective in allowing a librarian to respond to the patron's question and provide possible resource titles, citations, and links. By doing this, a library can quickly and effectively meet patron reference needs in a way that is extremely convenient to modern day students, especially. Also, as twitter presents its information (posts) in a linear fashion, it makes it very easy to meet patron requests at a reasonably relaxed pace. In a time where resources are limited, twitter can prove to be a very useful tool for public and also academic librarians.

As is common among most organizations, twitter can also be used as a very effective way to promote events being held at public library institutions as well. Letting people know about what is going on and when, as well as leveraging the "retweet" function by having followers retweet the announcement posts in order to spread word of mouth can be extremely useful in ensuring a good turn out at events; something that can often prove key to justifying funding for the next fiscal year.

Addressing potentially controversial issues such as changes to circulation policies can also be a very useful function of twitter. In cases where libraries, in response to funding cuts, must cut back service hours, twitter can prove to be an excellent forum to discuss the hows and whys of the situation with the public. This can enable a constructive dialog regarding the issue with out the potentially heated tensions can can arise from face to face conversations. (Believe me, I would've loved to have had this back when I worked at the library!)

Twitter can also prove to be a great way to solicit suggestions for library programming and events. It does not simply have to be a solely self-directed activity driven by library staff; engaging the public by allowing them to constructively make suggestions and have their say is also important. People living in a web 2.0 society are used to not only receiving information, but also engaging it, and creating their own. If patrons feel they can make meaningful interactions and contributions to the library, then it makes the library all the more valuable to them. It's important to consider that especially in this case, librarians and staff must be careful of walking the fine line between being receptive to suggestions, and at the same time, avoiding the problem of over promising on every single idea that sounds halfway decent. While it is the patrons' library, in the end, the staff are the ones that have to run it, and implement any ideas or changes that may occur.

Exercise 2 - Blogs

1. What do you see as the differences between the five blogs I asked you to subscribe to in terms of the type of blog and the type of post (genre, length, etc.)

In the library with the lead pipe
Semi-Academic format and writing style, but its subject matter and content tend towards more a non-
traditional, progressive thinking approach to library management and operations. Attitudes generally
skew towards a younger generation of librarians: Gen-X and Gen-Y.

Librarian's Commute
Personal librarian's blog regarding their issues and concerns with the various idiosyncracies that
occur in the line of duty. Generally a sounding board for the blog's sole writer's thoughs and
concerns. Much of this sounds akin to someone simply blowing off steam regarding their personal
issues and concerns over work. A very personal blog in that respect.

The Distant Librarian
Tech services oriented blog geared primarily towards providing information on potential resources for
online tools, as well as commentary on tech trends in the field of librarianship. The blog takes on a
largly informative tone in its writing style.

Librarian by Day
Industry management oriented blog geared towards higher level library staff, likely library
directors. Emerging internet technologies and their implications on librarianship are addressed, but
they are portrayed as opportunities rather than threats, as many traditional librarians would see
them.

David Lee King
Similar to the Distant Librarian blog, both focus on technology, but King's blog places especial
focus on user experiences in regards to the library tech experience. In addition, the blog focusses
on how to engage patrons through the use of social media technologies. Like many other librarian
blogs, the implications of new and growing technologies on librarianship are also addressed.


2. What types of posts do you find most appealing to read and why?
Generally, I find posts on listing specific technologies and software interesting, as they introduce
me to potential tools that would prove useful to me, but I otherwise would never know about. This is
especially handy as to me, it is a modern day extension of librarianship. Finding pertinent, useful
resources for users in all forms, is the essence of library service.


3. What library blogs did you subscribe to? Please include a 1 to 3 sentence description of each one.
Gizmodo
This is a science and technology blog with a slant towards emerging consumer electronics and other
such products. Much of the content discusses editors' thoughts and interests in new technologies and
their potential uses, as well as simple speculation on rumored products and features.

Tame the Web
This is a blog run by Michael Stephens, an MLIS instructor at SJSU. The blog is aimed at discussing
ways to make libraries relevant as a community institution and not an information repository as it
has been for centuries prior to the advent of the internet. The focus of this blog is on promoting
this community service model as a way of enabling libraries to survive in the future.

ReadWriteWeb
ReadWriteWeb is a technology analyst blog that discusses the latest news affecting internet
technology. This can include internet political legislation, corporate user policies, online service
models, etc.

4. Based on the blogs you chose, what are some of the characteristics that you think make a library blog successful?
A unique voice that stands out from the typical AP newspaper style of writing, one that is more
conversational is one of the first keys. Engaging, relevant content that can clearly articulate why
it is important to the blog's readers is also important, and will keep them coming back for more. But
most of all, the blog must contain resources that lead to useful tools for the library blog's
readers. The blog's writers must keep up with the latest technologies and show what is out there and
immediately relevant and useful to the readers. By doing this, the blog provides value to the readers
and gives them a reason to come back to the blog and treat it as a valued daily resource.

Oh Brave New World and What Tweets in it...

Week 3 Post
What do you think of Twitter? What are some of the positives and negatives of the medium? 

Twitter is one of those "newfangled" internet mediums that I look upon with an equal mix of curiosity and also leeriness. Certainly, it is a very effective medium for communication to get a message out quickly and effectively. It's very similar to a facebook status page in that sense, but even more efficient. You can simply put out the message you want regarding an event (either personal or professional) and everyone following you will know instantly. In a sense, it's a highly efficient alternative to texting everyone at once. In a professional capacity, twitter is very useful for putting word out about events and interacting with a fanbase in an off the cuff fashion, without the need to put much time and energy as one would a blog or a facebook page.

The downside of twitter however is the character limit. At 150 or so characters, tweets are meant to be quick and to the point, and often in internet shorthand. For longer, more detailed comments, that would be where blogs or websites come into play. In that sense, twitter works best as a compliment to a website or blog; not necessarily a replacement for one.

Blog Post - Week 2

What should an organization do when they find negative things being written about them online?

Ultimately an organization should assess the nature and source of the negative comments written online. If they are on a random person's blog or forum, then it should be ignored as just a minor issue, not important enough to deal with. If the negative post is on the organization's own forum/facebook/twitter, or is by a major public figure, then steps should be taken to respond to the criticism quickly and professionally. If the statements are true, apologize for them and assure them that steps are being taken to fix the issue. Concrete details of what is being done is also important. However, if the statements are false, then diplomatically explain exactly what is in fact going on to prevent the truth from being misrepresented.

Exercise 1 - World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment and the Internet

Background Context

The advent of communications technologies such as the internet and social media have placed the consumer in an unusual position. Prior to the advent of digital self-publishing, the vast majority of information a person gained about a given company was largely limited to what was readily available through newspapers, radio, and television. All of these mediums were largely a receiving medium, ie; one where the user receives information, but has little direct impact on it in regards to issues of presentation or fact. Everything that was known was in this way limited, and also tightly controlled. Simply put, a person learned as much about a given company as the company wanted them to know. Insider information was often strictly controlled, and even when insiders wanted to speak, there were very few avenues for them to do so.

The advent of the internet and social media changed this. Now, in many ways, an interested person can often gain almost as much, if not more information on a given organization or industry than those actually in the industry ever thought possible. Startlingly, sometimes even more than the actual organization itself. This can often lead to a PR nightmare for the organizations involved. The struggle by organizations, particularly for-profit organizations to maintain control over the flow of information is extremely difficult. To communicate with one's customers is to reveal information, and in doing so, making the customer more informed than perhaps the company would like. Finding the optimal balance between the two is critical. 

In the case of an organization like the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), it can easily serve to help or harm the company. While it is true that Professional Wrestling, or Sports Entertainment, as some have called it, is indeed scripted (not fake; NEVER call it fake in the presence of a professional wrestler; very painful and dangerous consequences can and have occurred over the years as a result), the key to this field is maintaining the illusion of reality, otherwise known as "kayfabe". Clearly, if a person wanted to see people beat each other up, and then it is discovered that the contest is scripted, then the tension surrounding the competition is moot; hence the need for the maintenance of the illusion. 

The unusual situation of the WWE, arguably the only remaining successful professional wrestling company in the world, is that it knows it must maintain kayfabe to keep credibility and keep their fanbase engaged. At the same time, they must, like any organization, constantly seek to expand product awareness to increase the number of customers for their product. Appealing only to a hardcore audience is ultimately a detrimental act guaranteeing only diminishing turns on one's bottom line. In our contemporary age, the WWE, like any other company, is forced to utilize social media to reach out to new potential fans. The risk for them, however, is the possibility of revealing too much information, and thus breaking the carefully maintained illusion of reality. 

The dynamics of maintaining kayfabe are made much more difficult with the fact that the internet is a two way medium; often with the audience speaking more than the business itself. In regards to the WWE, for every online posting through twitter and facebook made by the company and its talent, easily hundreds more comments and articles are posted by the company's fans. Specifically, hardcore wrestling enthusiasts who have extensive information about the inner workings of the industry known as Smarks (Smart Mark).  In some cases, the smarks have contact with, or perhaps even are, actual insiders in the industry itself. 

Exercise Answers

1. What are people saying about this organization online? What tools are they using to talk about the organization?

The vast majority of people discussing the WWE online are what the industry considers smarks. Most of these smarks discuss matches, and insider information on the inner works and internal politics of the WWE. Discussions over the past ten years have largely been commentary on what is perceived as a general decline of the industry and the overall quality of the WWE's product. The vast majority of these discussions take place in internet wrestling forums, and even on old usenet boards or irc chatrooms. Relatively little in the way of social media in terms of facebook or twitter is used. 

2. Is the organization responding to these people through social media? If so, how effective do you think they are?

The WWE generally attempts to reach out the the general populace as a form of pop culture entertainment and does virtually everything in its power to ignore the smarks, also known as the Internet Wrestling Community (IWC). Often the WWE has an adversarial relationship with the IWC as their views tend to differ very strongly regarding the direction the company is going. In this sense, the effectiveness of the WWE in its social media efforts can be regarded as either poor or mixed.

3. What social media tools is the organization using to proactively communicate with their user base (rather than just responding)? How effective do you think they are in building relationships and engaging their customers online?

The WWE's usage of social media is almost exclusively limited to its use of twitter. Supplemental materials are provided through internet videos on its own websites. The talent more often than not uses twitter to further the image of rivalries in its storylines and maintain kayfabe. As noted in #2, the WWE tends to be very weak at engaging its fanbase online and can even have a somewhat hostile relationship with it, feeling that the online communities are not worth the effort. The general population, in a bid for mainstream recognition is more often made aware of the WWE through merchandising and crossover promotion with celebrities than actual social media.