The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for Smaller and Underfunded LibrariesSarah Houghton-JanDigital Futures Manager, San Jose Public LibraryAuthor, LibrarianInBlack.net

LOL...whatsie?#1: LOLcats are photos, of cats usually,

with funny, gramatically incorrect captions

#2: The captions often play on memes and “in-jokes” previously generated by other LOLcat photos

#3: They spout all sorts of wisdom.

LOLcat

The 10 LOL Cat Laws of Web Services for

Smaller & Underfunded Libraries

#1: Talk with customers

Email

Instant messaging (AIM, Meebo, Plugoo)

Chat Widgets (IM or web-based chat window on webpages)

Voice Over IP (VOIP like Skype and other services)

Video Chat (some IM clients, Skype too!)

Text messaging (SMS)

UNLV's IM Service

Put chat windows and “assistance” links where

customers are UPSET

Screenshot courtesy of David Lee King, Topeka Shawnee County

Public Library

Text Messaging (SMS)

Cell phones and SMS are now more popular than ever

Offer both circulation and reference services via SMS ($)

“For pay” (rather cheap) and hack options (which have security and feature issues)

Reference Service via SMS

#2: Interact with Customers

Welcome comments on everything

Respond like a human being

Example: offer Online Book Clubs with a mix of staff and customers

San Jose Public Library's Teen Book Club on

LibraryThing

Blogs for Recommendations

Blogs (each entry is its own review)

-or- Wikis (subject/age based pages w/ reviews)

Encourage full staff participation

Offer a template w/ tags and categories

Welcome customer comments and entries

#5: Be EngagedUse EngagedPatrons.org (free and

low-cost Web 2.0 services for libraries run by Glenn Peterson of Hennepin County Lib.)

Events Calendar with online registration

Blogs

Google Maps mashup for library locations

Library contact form

RSS feeds + other stuff too!

#3: Be SocialBe present where your users are

Be realBe reliable and continuously new

$10 = 5000 Facebook Flyers to targeted

audiences

Facebook Flyer image by Steve Lawson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary/1546577200

CHEAP ADVERTISING!!!

#4: Use MultimediaPhotographs / Images

Podcasts

Videocasts

Games

Westmont Public Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/westmontlibrary/549380055/

Exploit Image Generators

GeneratorBlog.blogspot.com

ImageGenerator.org

ImageChef.com

Podcasting & Videocasting

people who can talk/sing

digital microphone (free)

Audacity (free)

a Blogger blog (free)

people who aren't camera-shy +

digital video camera ($100+) +

Avidemux editing software (free) +

a Blogger blog (free)

#6: Offer Treatsies

People like shiny objects,

Ask them what they want.

Then find them some.

There are many of a treat in HCPL's catalog

Staff Avatars!a la Nashville Public Library

“My Account” Text Messages

#7: Exploit the FreeFree web hosting, statistics, and web

gadgets

Tap the Google Wonderland

#8: Respect Customers

You never know when you're lunch.

Expect the best, not the worst.

Treat customers with respect, regardless of age of which services they use.

#9: Offer Users Choices

How to contact you

How you communicate with them

How they find things online

What they find online (content & format)

Mashups = Choices People are mashing up your library's

content.

Why not advertise that?

Library ELF: account tracking and alerts through e-mail, RSS, and text messaging

Library LookUp: click on this bookmarklet when on a webpage with an ISBN to look up item in the catalog

LibX Toolbar: Direct access in web browser to catalog and more (other toolbars too)

Library Elf

Good Catalog = Choices

Can’t change ILS? Consider an overlay!

AquaBrowser ($)

Endeca ($)

LibraryThing for Libraries (fewer $)

VuFind (open source)

WorldCat Local ($)

LibraryThing for Libraries

#10: Keep going!Try new things!

Push administrators (they like 24/7 nature of web services, minimal staffing and cheap costs, highest ROI in the library)

Rejoice in failures (it means you're pushing boundaries!)

And why do we do all of this?

Because we're proud of our Because we're proud of our services, and there's nothing services, and there's nothing

worse than blending in...worse than blending in...

Questions?

Sarah Houghton-Janweb: www.LibrarianInBlack.netemail: LibrarianInBlack@gmail.comIM: LibrarianInBlackSkype: LibrairanInBlackFacebook:

facebook.com/librarianinblack

Ask her anything. Really!