Web Trends

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Web Trends Innovations
Internet Librarian 2005

• John Blyberg, Ann Arbor (MI) District Library
• Sarah Houghton, Marin County (CA) Free Library
• David King, Kansas City (MO) Public Library
• Glenn Peterson, Hennepin (MN) County Library

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Large Public Library Websites

• Libraries with awesome websites
• What are they doing?
• Whats their focus?

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Phoenix Public Librarys Focus

• Welcoming customers
• Content and events
• Attractive design
• Subject guides
• Redesigned September 2003

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Seattle Public Librarys Focus

• Interacting Using the library, searching the
  catalog, locating a library, browsing,
  downloading
• Introducing customers to library services
  library collection, databases, events, locations
• Redesigned February 2004

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New York Public Librarys Focus

• Finding things
• Finding content (catalog, databases, local
  history)
• Finding locations
• Discovering library services
• Major Events
• Redesigned May 2004

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Generalizations

• Main Focus
• Content
• Customers
• Communication
• Redesigning with Web Standards

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How Do They Do That?

• Its all about leverage
• Web Application Software
• (PHP, ASP, ColdFusion, perl, etc.)
• Rapid Development Environment
• (Dreamweaver, Homesite, etc.)
• Reference staff for content
• (Web-based tools for staff)
• Learn more about XML
• (underlies RSS more)

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Subject Guides

• Starting points for finding information in
  specific topic areas
• Bring together in one place all library resources
  on a topic

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Subject Guides

• Whats Included?
• Databases
• Selected Websites
• Links into Library Catalog
• Classes/Events
• RSS Feeds
• Subject-specific Blog

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Small Library Power

• Im at a small library with
• No staff
• No money
• No time
• No coders
• What can I possibly do ???

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Simple Blogging RSS

• Create a weblog for your library
• Its free
• Add RSS feeds (also free)
• No tech skills required
• You dont even have to call it a blog
• Waterboro, University High Library, Homer
  Township, Marin County

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Linked Lists

• Hyperlinked reading/viewing/listening lists
• You have these laying aroundput em online!
• HTML or a hyperlinked PDF
• Quick Searches
• Links that lead to prefab catalog searches
• All the DVDs, new books, large type
• San Francisco
• San Rafael

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Simple Online Forms

• Printable PDFs
• Card application
• Obituary request
• Simple HTML forms
• E-mail reference request
• Patron comments

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Lightweight Virtual Reference

• Instant Messaging
• Your users are here alreadywhere are you?
• Free or cheap
• Aggregate multiple accounts through Trillian or
  Gaim
• Jybe
• One-click connection (uses downloadable toolbar)
• Free or cheap
• Incorporates co-browsing
• SMS
• Cell phones in the library?

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Ann Arbor District Library

• AADL.ORGs open source tools
• L.A.M.P.
• Linux
• Apache
• MySQL
• PHP
• Drupal CMS

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Ann Arbor District Library

• Linux
• Debian Sarge
• 2.6.x kernel
• Stable platform
• Easy to manage
• No associated license fees

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Ann Arbor District Library

• Apache
• Fast
• Stable
• Flexible configuration
• Modular
• Ubiquitous
• Free

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Ann Arbor District Library

• MySQL
• Fast
• Stable
• Scalable
• Most DB-based open source projects choose MySQL
  instead of PostgreSQL.
• Most of our pre-existing databases were in MYSQL
• Free

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Ann Arbor District Library

• PHP
• Easy to use
• Large support base
• Native support for XML
• Many built-in functions
• Stable
• Fun
• Much of our existing code is PHP
• Free

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Ann Arbor District Library

• Drupal
• Open-source
• Written in PHP
• 100 Modular
• API-centric
• Fast
• Very active project
• Good support base
• Well Documented
• Approach to CMS/Blogging fell within our needs
• Oh, yes. Its free.

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Trends in Public Library Websites

• Next 2-3 years
• My best guesses

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Redesigning

• With CSS
• Cincinnati, Seattle, Ann Arbor, Phoenix
• Kansas City will be soon
• Whos next?

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Interaction and Content

• Blogs and RSS
• Contacting the library Phone number, IM, Chat,
  SMS, email, etc
• Mixing online, traditional, database, catalog
• Video is coming Kansas City, Bookhive, etc

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Interaction and Content

• Example Bookhive (a kids site)
• Book reviews by staff
• Customer comments
• Request book
• Buy book
• Example AADL
• RSS and Comments everywhere
• Combines information and conversation

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Web Trends Innovations
Internet Librarian 2005

• John Blyberg, AADL blybergj_at_aadl.org
• Sarah Houghton, MCFL sarahfaery_at_hotmail.com
• David King, KCLS davidking_at_kclibrary.org
• Glenn Peterson gpeterson_at_hclib.org