Evaluating, Recommending & Justifying 2.0 Tools

Marydee Ojala was the presenter at this wildly popular session.  There were no empty seats and people were standing in the back for this one!  I guess that means it’s something that a lot of people want to have strategies for. 

She discussed many different things and I know I missed a lot when taking my notes.  Luckily,  her presentation can be accessed here. 

The session began by highlighting what she planned going to discuss:

• New Technologies
• Evaluating, Recommending and Justifying
• Building a business case for the new tools

2.0 = empowerment, sharing, communicating

•  Social median & networking are interchangeable
• COLLABORATION

Magazines & papers are adding things to their websites that won’t show up in archival versions (reporter’s blogs, comments on articles etc)

Social media as research (missed some of this)

• Realtime & more

Does management really appreciate the power of social?

Does Staff?

Do you?

Personal use vs professional

• Keep your personal life out of your worklife

Appropriatness

• Would you ‘SuperPoke’ your boss?
• Post something derogatory about a coworker/customer on any social media?

Social in a business setting

• Guidelines not that different from technology before

Why add social tools?

• Customer expectations
• Marketing the organization
• Product promotion (OPAC, new materials)
• Transmitting/sharing information
• Learning from others
• Reputation management

Recommending

• Get outside your comfort zone
• It isn’t just a library decision
• Opportunity to join a larger conversation

Justifications

• What problem does it solve?
  • Should solve problems not produce them
  • What’s the problem?
  • What’s the best solution?
  • What’s the best product?
    • How well does it solve the problem?
    • Does it work as advertised
    • Will it survive?
    • Is there tech support?  Is it good?
    • Who owns the data?

• Common Objections
  • Social is a waste of time
  • Invasion of privacy
  • Opens us up to security violations
  • Could give away secrets
  • Just a fad…get over it

The objections are NOT trivial

• Don’t be quick to label people ‘luddites’
• Some are real & serious concerns
  • Got to come up with real/serious reasons you want ___ tool

Try using the phrase “Yes…and” instead of “Yes…but” when discussing objections. 

Counter Arguments

• Need to be constructed with understanding that the objections are valid
• What are the technical ramifications?

Who are the stakeholders in implementing new technologies?

• IT (can be either enthusiastic or paranoid)
• Sales & Marketing
• HR (concerned about employee privacy)
• Strategic Planning
• Top Management

All the stakeholders have a different worldview.

Making the Business Case

• Align with goals
• How do decisions get made?
• Build a case based on outcomes
• Anecdotes vs. statistics (depends on your audience)
• Tailor your arguments
• Your timing can be very important
• Understand the internal decision making process

Money implications

• Free stuff costs – staff time, training, upkeep etc.

Delivery

• Know your audience
  • How do they want information delivered?
• Start with benefits
• Problems = Solutions

There are some things you may be able to do with out having to get ‘approval’ from management.  If you try this make sure they know about it. 

How do you measure success?

Have a good reason to want this new thing…just because it is cool does not cut it!

NO Tinselware!!!!

Other notes can be found at these sites:

Library Trainer

The Analog Divide

David Lee King

Googlization & Gadget Support for the Library

This session was really two different topics, two different libraries/audiences, and two different presentations.  The slides for both presentations are available here.

The first speaker was Lorette S.J. Weldon.  She discussed how she was able to increase the use of her library by using Google.  She began by replicating (?) her small library’s (I apologize for missing the name of the library) collection by using Google Docs and creating Google Groups for her users.  The groups were used to hold online presentations/group discussions twice a month.  She found that the researchers really liked the new method of content delivery and the collaboration of research that it enabled.  The users were able to share information and work together in ways that they were not able to before.  The use of her library’s collection jumped from 200 users per quarter in 2007 to 2000 users in 2008.  She did exceptional work and I only wish it were more applicable to my work environment.

The next group of speakers was Jenny Norvalis, Elisa Day, and Dawn Fischer from the Bedford Public Library (VA). They discussed their ‘Tech Chat’ series of programs.  This is an amazing service!  The ‘Tech Chat’ program allows the people of Bedford to come to the library, ask questions about new gadgets or social networks and receive informed assistance from the staff.  It is kind of an open house where people can bring in their new stuff and the staff also provides examples of gadgets they have.  These monthly programs allow people to get hands on experience with new (expensive) gadgetry and ask questions they may be a little hesitant to ask their kids/family. 

They have set up a wiki for quick access to tutorials, frequently asked questions and reviews for different technology related categories.  It is available online as a quick reference for anyone wanting to know more about the selected topics. 

Select staff has been trained as ‘Tech Authorities’ at each branch.  It is their responsibility to support other staff members, contribute to the wiki and be the ‘go-to’ person at his/her branch for tech questions.  They are educated by the staff at library administration and their colleagues. 

I really think this is a great way to serve the community!

New Strategies for Digital Natives

My first session of the day and I feel that it was a great way to begin.  Helen Blowers discussed some things that I have been reading/thinking about recently and her presentation helped get me focused on what I wanted to get from my day.  Unfortunately my notes do not do her presentation justice so I’ve embedded her slideshow here.

What is a digital native?  Anyone born after 1980

            There have always been computers, cell phones, and internet 

Digital Pioneers/Digital Immigrants = anyone born before 1980 

Web 1.0 = Find –>  Built on accessing information

Web 2.0 = Connect –> The ability to engage and share information 

We don’t (shouldn’t) chase information anymore; we have the ability to make it come to us (RSS) 

Engagement is the web now 

9 Digital Native Realities

Digital Identity

For many Digital Natives their online ID is the same as their ‘real’ ID.

Their digital identity is how they influence their authority online

“We leave our digital footprints out there to be discovered” 

Digital Creativity

The ability to create and leave your imprint.

Content Creation 

Digital Information Quality

There is a shift from authoritative control to collaborative control

How do we enable our information to get to the users?

Encyclopedia Britannica has recently added a wiki layer so users can do some editing. 

Digital Safety

DNs have grown up in a ‘safe’ world

Only .08% have actually met someone in person that they met online

DNs are smart, they know how to judge safety 

Digital Opportunity

The world is more accessable

Digitally…

            There are no barriers

            Playing field is leveled

            Access in universal

            Connection is ubiquitous

            All about me

                                    = Opportunites

Digital Piracy

Is sharing piracy?

There is influence through sharing

DNs come from a world of creative commons (copying and remixing are ways to create and make new things from other things)

Digital Privacy

There is none

Life streaming

Digital Advocacy

The voice you create can make a difference

Creating their leadership potential 

What does this mean for libraries? 

What elements need to be present in order for our strategies to support our users? 

Engagement –> How –>  Enable customers to connect with library and each other

            (People want to feel connected) 

Enrich –>  Provide a rich online experience that enhances their local branch & lives

            We want people to feel they are getting value 

Empower –> Personalize & add value to their library experience & celebrate themselves

            Want people to feel good about themselves 

When considering a new tool or service (especially online) we should ask the following questions

Does ___ engage/enrich/empower our users?

How does ___ engage/enrich/empower our users? 

We should look for tools that meet the needs of Digital Natives.  

I really enjoyed this session and wish I could remember everything she said.  This is a relevant  discussion for libraries and as we move forward in librayland we should consider the Digital Native more and more.  Not only with our online presence but with what we offer in our facilities.  

Some other good notes on this session can be found at these sites:

utopianlibray.com

Infotodayblog.com

davidleeking.com

Hurst Associates

Wired Librarian

Social Network Profile Management

Here are my notes (mostly coherent) from one of the sessions I attended at Computers In Libraries 2009.

Four member panel discussed different ways and strategies for managing your social network profiles.  This was a good session.  The topic is relevant to me and to the library if we decide to begin using social networking tools.  Each speaker had 5 minutes to speak then the session was opened to questions.  There is a good write up of this session at the electriclibrarian blog.

The first speaker was Greg Schwartz.  He began his segment by discussing identity.  A brief definition of identity:  What I say about me.  What others say about me.  You do not own/control your online ID…but you can influence it.  Here are his four suggestions for influencing your online ID.           

1. Own your username.  Pick a name that represents you, is relatively professional and hopefully unique and stick with it (use it on all the social sites you sign up with).  A handy site for checking the availability of your username is www.checkusernames.com.
2. Join the conversation.  Participate in the network you have joined.  Make friends, follow people, comment when/where appropriate.
3. Listen.  Set up a twitter search and google alerts for your username.  When someone mentions you/your username you will be notified.  You can respond as you see fit.
4. Be authentic/real.  Don’t be institutional or try to be someone other than yourself.  People will see through it. 

Amanda Clay Powers was next.  She began by stating that people have been telling stories forever and that social networking is just another way to tell your story.  Creating your identity is tied to managing your information.  Libraries can help manage people their identity by helping them manage their information.  We can educate about what they are doing and teach them the best way to manage their information.  An example is helping people who are setting up a social network profile with the privacy settings.

The third presenter was Sarah Houghton-Jan  and she had some tips for setting up an institutional social network profile. 

1. Have a uniform username.  Try to use the same name across all of the social networks your library participates in. 
2. Use a uniform, generic email address when signing up for social networks.  You want to do this so more than one person can log in and (most importantly) if the person who sets up the account leaves the username/log on information doesn’t leave with him/her.
3. Make sure your profile information is current.  NO information is better than having wrong information.
4. When people comment or ask you a question reply quickly.  You using social networks to listen to and engage the community so if you don’t reply then you are not helping your library.
5. Be personal not institutional in tone.  Social networks are not a forum for press releases. 
6. Be open to everyone.  If someone across the country wants to friend/follow you, let him/her.  

Realize that there is a time commitment to any social network you sign the library up for.  Who keeps the information up to date?  She recommends spreading the responsibility around so one person is the only one responsible for your online presence.  

The final presenter was Michael Porter.  His mission for this presentation was to give personal examples of do’s and don’ts for social networks.  Hilarity ensued.  His point was to be personal/real but be careful what you post especially when you are representing your institution/library. 

There was some time for questions and answers at the end of their presentations.  I can’t remember all of the questions but the one I do remember had to do with keeping your professional and personal lives separate online.  All four panel members agreed that it is difficult to do and maybe impossible if you are really being genuine online.  Eventually a blend of personal and professional will emerge.

Some other notes can be found at these sites:

Librarian in black

Hurst Associates

Computers in Libraries

Tomorrow (3/31) I am going to Computers In Libraries 2009.  I’m super excited and am eager to see what I can learn.  I will try to post some of my notes here but don’t expect anything tomorrow.  I will be waking early and coming home late.

I a little bummed that some of the people I want to see are speaking at the same time but I’ll have to deal with it.  My colleague and I will probably split up and go to different sessions so we can get the most out of our day.  We can compere notes on the ride back home.

Should be a fun day!  Off to bed!