Finishing Web 2.0

Well, I have taken a little while to sign of the last part of Lesson 6 - only because I really wanted to explore another library site to see what they do with FaceBook. I thought that I would check out Christchurch City Libraries to see what features they have on their website. I noticed that they have a Library blog for customers to use to commmunicate to other patrons about the books they have read or anything that may be of interest to people who use this site.

They also provide patrons with the opportunity to download Audiobooks - a feature that I know that we will be adding to the new Auckland Library website.

They had a link to Flick on their website and on their Home Page they had a "category Cloud" which is a great tool to interact and engage with anyone who may be wanting to find a quick way to navigate your way around their website.

At the bottom of their Teen's Page I noticed that they had a link to MAXOS Music so the web designers have thought about the types of links that Young Adults would use.

Patrons could submit feedback info such as the NZ Post Book Awards "Have your say" on the website.

I didn't see any shortcut link to "Facebook" or "Twitter" like we now have on our website.

When answering the question, "What would our customers get out of Facebook?" I am sure that they would appreciate the opportunity to be able to connect with people "online", view their photos, and participate in various "gimmicky" tasks such as Farnyard and Treasure Island. I am of the opinion that these types of activities are for people who have too much time on their hands, or don't have a life!

Rarely do our library customers ask for Facebook. They are more interested in using Bebo. Personally I prefer Facebook to Bebo. I like the layout of the site better and I find it a place where there are more people I know to connect with.

Twitter is also good as you can "follow people" and when people add stuff, you can instantly pick up from where you left off last time. On T.V recently they likened Twitter to a postcard becuase 140 characters are about the smae number of characters that you would be able to reaslisticallt fit on a postcard - good analogy!

"What can Facebook do for us as a public library?" Good question and I am stiull trying to figue that one out. It really is just like and email but you can limit who you want to hear from, because you have to be "invited" to become a friend on Facebook to communicate!
At the moment it is free to use Facebook so if we have the opportunity to have a conversation to some-one who has not yet started this "social networking buzz, then this would be the better way to go. Having a shortcut to FACEBOOK, hopefully our patrons will find it much easier to access a social networking site and they may even convert from using Bebo! I believe that having FACEBOOK on our Computer Desktop also assists in re-inforcing that libraries are still at the cutting edge of "forefront" of the new computer age. If we are using the site regularly, as librarians, then we will also be more likely to promote the benefits of Facebook to our patrons.

I also thought that the tags "Community Services", "Business", "Learning" were a really good idea. Again the designers had thought about the different types of "patrons" using the site, and provided quick links to useful websites to suit these users.

Well that's about all I can think of at this point in time. It's getting late and it's time for my final "sign out!"

Until next time......


Jesus Freak