Question No.3 (INF413)

Many new and free technologies are now available for libraries to enhance their services, such as blogs, wikis and RSS feeds.

Blogs is a kind of web site that the content is presented as diary. The content of the blog can be written by one author or collaborative author, so the libraries can update the content by collaborative effort . As the bolg can be updated at anytime, libraries can use this to provide 7/24 services and content delivery. Sometimes blogs are used by library as informational tools that can inform users for any update of the collection, latest event of the library services and library activities news. For example, the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin is working on a blog for providing a new communication channel with the users and latest news of the library. The Yarra Plenty Regional Library in Victoria, on the other hand, builds a blog not only for enhancing the interaction between the users and the library, but also between staff.

Once start with blogs, library service like updating new entries to the collection can become easy. Each new entry can also be directed to other internet resources that can enrich the user’s knowledge to that titles. Other services like online book discussion, book award announcements , author interviews and hot library topic for this week can also be done within a blog. Other services like children’s bolg for attracting more children to browse, giving comments and promote reading. The results of providing a blog is that library services and resources can then be promoted as more people know what library is doing. An example of such is the blog from the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin, which publish a book review every day to encourage more comments and opinions.

Another free technology is wikipedia, which is an open platform for letting web users to create and edit their entries. Users can also create new pages and crosslink with other entries, which make referencing more easier To contribute in wikipedia is simple and no programming knowledge is required, and any entries can be edited or deleted by anyone else.

Nowadays some libraries are benefiting from wiki in a few ways. One of such use is combining the open editing power with library-related issue. Librarians can then share and edit the latest library issue on a open platform, so as to promote interaction with others. An example of such is Library and Information Science Wiki (LISWiki) (http://liswiki.com/wiki/ ), which provide opportunity for other librarians to share and develop various library issues. Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki (www.libsuccess.org/index.) is doing something similar, and the focus is more sharing ideas and thoughts of how to become a more successful library.To library users, some wiki (like The Biz Wiki (www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page) is developing as a form of library resources that contains information on database, reference book and other research material for the students, staff and librarians to work on. The Princeton Public Library is also building a wiki (http://booklovers.pbwiki.com/) using similar theme, that allow readers to post their book reviews on the wiki.

RSS feeds is also another free technology for getting information, such as news, blogs or other webpage that support this function. By adding this function on the webpage and once users subscribe it, a number of items like headline, description or website link will automatically feed to users computer. When library users subscribe RSS feeds from library webpage, they are able to get the latest update from the library without visiting its homepage. Useful information like upcoming library events, new purchased items and new services available in library can directly send to users promptly. An example of such is Australian Nation University which feeds it lists of new titles in the catalogue.