Libraries Building Community and Library 2.0
Michelle McLeanInformation Librarian
A Land Down Under
• Size = 95% of USA mainland
• Population = 7% of USA
• US - 1 librarian per 1886 people (2004 US Dept of Labour)
• OZ - 1 librarian per 1939 people (2001 Census)
Australian Initiatives
Libraries Building Community
• Libraries Building Community Reports
• Text appeal• Inside a dog
Web 2.0• Picture
Australia/Flickr• Libraries Interact• Second Life and
Virtual Libraries Interact
Libraries Building Community
• Study of public libraries by State Library Victoria
• Initial study 2005, update due April 2007
• Reports: Setting the scene, logging the benefits, bridging the gaps, showcasing the best
• Library census 2006• http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/information/
publications/
Showcasing the best 2005
• Developing social capital
• Building individual skills
• Reaching out to communities
• Providing a gateway to information
Library Census 2006
• Cover all 45 public library services
• 33,000 people surveyed
• Representative of all age groups, cultural groups, family backgrounds and geography
• Mainly borrowing books, activities
• High satisfaction with library services
Showcasing the best 2007
• Retains same format as 2005
• New in-depth case studies
• Snapshots of other projects
• Revisit some projects from 2005
Text Appeal - Literary Dating• Hosted by the State
Library of Victoria• Based on Belgium’s
“lib-dating” program• Run over 4 nights in
Dec 06, Jan - Feb 07• $20 per person, wine
& light refreshments• All booked out!
Text Appeal - Literary Dating
• 320 attended• 200 on waiting list• Media coverage• International interest• Cost recovery• Future?
Inside a dog
• Book reviews• Author-in-residence• Previews• Author interviews• Book news• Find good reads• Forums• Competitions
Since January 2006• Over 180,000 visits• 1500 book reviews• 800 forum posts• 4000 competition
entries• Positive feedback
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to
read.” Groucho Marx
www.insideadog.com.au
Picture Australia & Flickr
• Partnership between National Library & Yahoo
• Aim to “enrich the heritage collections available through Picture Australia…..”
• Began January 2006
Picture Australia & Flickr
• People, places and events
• Over 600 members• Over 17,000 images• Current and historical
content• Ourtown - March 07
Picture Australia & Flickr
• Copyright ownership• Creative Commons
licences• Metadata• Picture Australia visits
Picture Australia and Flickr• Easy to administer• Issues with tagging• Increase in use of Picture
Australia• NLA has acquired
selected images • http://
www.pictureaustralia.org/Flickr.html
Libraries Interact
• Nicknamed LINT• “Blog central for
Australian libraries”• Across sectors/states• Independent & IT
focussed• Team of regulars• Guest contributions
Libraries Interact
• Since September ‘06• Posts• Comments• Topics• Archived by NLA• librariesinteract.info
Second Life and VLINT
• Corporate presences• Library related
presences• Australian Libraries
Building• Aims
Second Life and VLINT
• Virtual Libraries Interact
• Spin-off from Libraries Interact
• “Blog central for Australian Libraries in Other Worlds”
• virtualibrariesinteract. info
Other Projects
Reading Victoria• Summer reading
program • Nov 06- Feb 07• 20 books• Author events, blog
and website• SMS votes
Reading Victoria - results
Learning 2.0
• Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries
• Using PLCMC’s Learning 2.0
• 80 staff and 5 non YPRL participants
• Local expertise
L2 UnConference
• Held in Melbourne• Hosted by Yarra
Plenty Libraries• Thomastown Library• Promoted through
blog and email lists• Booked out quickly• 100 attended
L2 UnConference
Topics covered:• RFID• Web 2.0=Library 2.0?• Blogs and Wikis• Tagging & Social
Networking• Second Life• Virtual service
and more
Library Lovers Day
• Valentine’s Day • Activities at libraries to
coincide• Website• Sharing ideas• Sharing feedback• 2nd year• Sponsorship• librarylovers.org.au
Other initiatives
• Legal Information Access Centre (NSW)
• Drug Info @ Your Library (NSW)
• Health Information Service (NSW)
• Read around OZ (nationwide)