WebJunction - Virtual LibraryArticles, Courses, Discussions, GroupsRE: "real" v digital ---aren't they both REAL?Betha Gutsche2009-09-16T19:25:28Z2009-09-16T19:25:28ZAnd many libraries think of their website as only a pointer to the physical library and its "real" services. It's a semantics game but I think it's important for everyone to think of digital and online experiences as very real.<br /><br />I've had friends tell me they "<i>never</i> go to the library." When I probe further, I discover that they place online holds on books (and yes they have to dash into the building and use the self-check) and that they search library databases. I tell them that they are indeed "going to the library" when they do that.Betha Gutsche2009-09-16T19:25:28ZRE: "real" v digital ---aren't they both REAL?Bob Watson2009-09-16T15:52:17Z2009-09-16T15:52:17ZWorse, they're ignoring a likely growth path among those "early adopters" who will soon be influential voters.Bob Watson2009-09-16T15:52:17ZRE: Joomla vs. Drupal opinions for digital branchBob Watson2009-09-16T15:50:02Z2009-09-16T15:50:02ZThere's also DotNetNuke.Bob Watson2009-09-16T15:50:02ZMore questions from the webinarDavid King2009-09-16T15:47:12Z2009-09-16T15:47:12ZThese questions came via email, from yesterday's webinar:<br /><br />Stephen Grubb says, "How did you choose the patrons for your meetings?<br /><br />Our Marketing Manager picked them - she sent out invitations to people she thought would care about how the redesign looked, and communications types. it worked well - we ended up with a good mix of people - young/old, tech savvy and not, etc.<br /><br />suzanne carbone says, "Are you aware of a virtual services or digital librarian list serv?"<br /><br />Not really... though I suppose this is one!<br /><br />Cindy says, "who was included in your committee?"<br /><br />About 12 staff members - frontline staff and managers, public services and techie staff, MLS and paraprofessionals.<br /><br />Debra says, "what is pod camp?" - who is it for?<br /><br />A PodCamp is a type of unconference focused on social media tools - podcasting, video, facebook, twitter, blogs, etc. Being an unconference, you don't plan any agenda up-front. Instead, you show up that morning, pick the topics, then go chat together about those topics. In our case, it's for people in the NE Kansas/MO area who are interested in social media.David King2009-09-16T15:47:12ZRE: Joomla vs. Drupal opinions for digital branchDavid King2009-09-16T15:38:46Z2009-09-16T15:38:46ZNot 100% positive about this, but I think http://www.yourlibrarysite.com/ are Drupal developers for libraries. They certainly build websites for libraries and add in SPOAC overlays to catalogs (which uses Drupal modules). So you might check with them...David King2009-09-16T15:38:46ZRE: Lobbying for support for your digital branchDavid King2009-09-16T15:31:43Z2009-09-16T15:31:43Z"In this time of funding cutbacks, how do you suggest those of us responsible for the "digital branch" lobby for support...especially if many still see the website as a non-essential service?"<br /><br />Funding cutbacks - most digital branch stuff costs no actual money, other than staff and time. So no new servers/software licenses, etc. Then, you need to show HOW the digital branch is essential. Stories of patron success, examples from other libraries and other organizations all work well.<br /><br />"Question for David: When I ask/demand/beg library staff to participate in our dynamic digital content (news blogs, book recommendations, audio, video, Tweets, etc.) I am often told "I don't have any time," but what I'm really hearing is "It's not a high priority for me or my boss." Do you have any suggestions for how to motivate and excite library staff to participate in the our dynamic digital content?"<br /><br />Ultimately, you need to work with managers to make digital branch work part of staff's formal job descriptions. Then they are required to work on the digital branch as part of their jobs.<br /><br />Otherwise ... sometimes people simply aren't scheduling their time well. So doing some simple things like setting a task/appointment in their calendar to write blog posts for 30 minutes every Thursday at 3:30, for example, works well. <br /><br />But yeah - ultimately managers need to make this stuff a priority for their staff.David King2009-09-16T15:31:43ZRE: Second Life and your digital branchDavid King2009-09-15T22:30:39Z2009-09-15T22:30:39ZWell, we have partnered with some area schools to do projects in Teen Second Life with a moderate amount of success, and have taught SL classes to teens.David King2009-09-15T22:30:39ZRE: Quantifying digital branch success?David King2009-09-15T22:29:38Z2009-09-15T22:29:38ZAh. State annual report stats are at least 10 years behind where they need to be. Just the normal "how many visits per year for electronic resources" question is lame-o, in my estimation. What do they really mean? Just the website? How about the databases? How about the catalog? etc... Pretty much ALL the questions on that report are the same.<br /><br />Instead of worrying about that - just answer those silly state questions as best as you can. Then focus on what matters to your customers, your boss, and your library. <br /><br />Or even better - send those into your state agency and let them know their report doesn't work for what you're counting. You might get some good discussion and/or changes kick-started!David King2009-09-15T22:29:38ZRE: Quantifying digital branch success?David King2009-09-15T22:26:06Z2009-09-15T22:26:06Z# of visitors<br />time on site<br />entrance and exit pages<br /><br />Take a look at this post - /<a href='http://blog.ogilvypr.com/2009/06/introducing-conversation-impact-social-media-measurement-for-marketers/'>http://blog.ogilvypr.com/2009/06/introducing-conversation-impact-social-media-measurement-for-marketers/</a> - they include some very interesting ideas for measurement, including Sentiment index (% positive - % negative) in social media, Share of positive voice in social media, within category, Relative Net Promoter Score, absolute or within category.<br /><br />You can also measure action - set up a registration page and then count registrations. Or ask people to click a link to read, then count the number of clicks (this is also called conversion).David King2009-09-15T22:26:06ZRE: "real" v digital ---aren't they both REAL?David King2009-09-15T22:20:54Z2009-09-15T22:20:54ZYes, they're both very real. And that was really my point - some libraries pretty much ignore their website - all energy flows towards their physical library, the building, etc. By pouring no time or resources into their digital stuff - their website, social media tools, etc, I'd suggest they're are basically ignoring one of their potential major service points.David King2009-09-15T22:20:54ZRE: Staffing a digital branch?David King2009-09-15T22:17:47Z2009-09-15T22:17:47Z"How do I manage a digital branch if I'm alone? or in a small library, where I have enough trouble keeping the physical library running?"<br /><br />Start small, focus on 1-2 things you'd like to do, then re-assess. Also prioritize - what do your customers want? Then do those things - the non-priority stuff will fall by the wayside ... and that's ok.<br /><br />"do you have dedicated branch staff who are handling daily affairs - dig ref, trouble shooting, content management?"<br /><br />Yes and no. I have 2 full-time web developers that build the site and troubleshoot. The rest of the library develops content. Staff at one of our reference desks are also responsible for handling email reference. Our telephone reference desk also does the IM ref stuff. Someone in our marketing department handles Facebook and Twitter. So it's really a mix.<br /><br />"David-do you manage the computer network team and catalog implementation people. If not, how do you relate to that unit."<br /><br />Yes I do manage them. I'm spoiled that way :-) But the way to relate to them? Just like you would any other unit. Be kind. Understand their needs. Don't get defensive. Etc.<br /><br />"Is the staff for digital library dedicated only to the digital side or [[[do they also do in-person service?]]]"<br /><br />Both. Our "digital-only staff" (ie., the web dudes) also work the helpdesk, sometimes help patrons with techie-type questions (once ina great while), and teach classes to staff.<br /><br />Our content providers ((ie., public services staff) DO work the desk and teach classes.David King2009-09-15T22:17:47ZRE: catalogue overlays like novelist or bibliocommons?David King2009-09-15T22:10:46Z2009-09-15T22:10:46ZMost definitely! Catalog overlays are a great way to add in the social - commenting, personal lists and tagging, customer reviews, starring/rating systems, RSS, etc - to an otherwise rather droll catalog.<br /><br />Just imagine if there were MORE things to do in your catalog besides just put a book on hold - what if patrons lingered there longer, adding their own thoughts to a book they just read, for example? How awesome is that?David King2009-09-15T22:10:46ZRE: Public vs. Academic digital branchDavid King2009-09-15T22:07:29Z2009-09-15T22:07:29ZI think the difference here is clientele and goals:<br /><br />Goals - might be different in the different types of libraries. IE., public libraries are ultimately interested in anyone and everyone coming in... academic libraries have some obvious target audiences built in.<br /><br />Clientele - academics have students, profs, staff, distance ed students, etc...<br /><br />The main thing to do with ANY type of library is to establish some goals - what do you hope to accomplish? Then go after those. And that doesn't change between library types.David King2009-09-15T22:07:29ZStaffing a digital branch?Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:19:55Z2009-09-15T20:19:55ZThis question came up a couple times, especially after David said he has 8 people in his department in the <a href='/virtual-library/-/articles/content/80470928'>Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century</a> webinar.<br /><br />"How do I manage a digital branch if I'm alone? or in a small library, where I have enough trouble keeping the physical library running?"<br /><br />"do you have dedicated branch staff who are handling daily affairs - dig ref, trouble shooting, content management?"<br /><br />"David-do you manage the computer network team and catalog implementation people. If not, how do you relate to that unit."<br /><br />"Is the staff for digital library dedicated only to the digital side or [[[do they also do in-person service?]]]"Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:19:55ZPublic vs. Academic digital branchJennifer Peterson2009-09-15T21:15:26Z2009-09-15T21:15:26ZAnother question for David and others from the <a href='/virtual-library/-/articles/content/80470928'>Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century</a> webinar:<br /><br />"David do you think this process will work differently for academic libraries?"<br /><br />"What are the differences in building community between public and academic libraries?"Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T21:15:26ZLobbying for support for your digital branchJennifer Peterson2009-09-15T21:13:16Z2009-09-15T21:13:16ZDavid addressed this question a bit in his webinar: <a href='/virtual-library/-/articles/content/80470928'>Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century</a> but I think it's worthy of additional suggestions and strategies. <br /><br />"In this time of funding cutbacks, how do you suggest those of us responsible for the "digital branch" lobby for support...especially if many still see the website as a non-essential service?"<br /><br />"Question for David: When I ask/demand/beg library staff to participate in our dynamic digital content (news blogs, book recommendations, audio, video, Tweets, etc.) I am often told "I don't have any time," but what I'm really hearing is "It's not a high priority for me or my boss." Do you have any suggestions for how to motivate and excite library staff to participate in the our dynamic digital content?"Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T21:13:16ZSecond Life and your digital branchJennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:49:39Z2009-09-15T20:49:39ZDavid talked about Second Life in the <a href='/virtual-library/-/articles/content/80470928'>Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century</a> webinar and there was loads of discussion in chat and on twitter. <br /><br />I thought I'd point out this <a href='/technology/web-tools/resources/discussion/4279974'>older discussion</a> but since applications of SL continue to evolve, I'd love to hear more about how libraries are bringing their patrons into SL.Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:49:39ZJoomla vs. Drupal opinions for digital branchJennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:23:22Z2009-09-15T20:23:22ZAnother great question posed in the <a href='/virtual-library/-/articles/content/80470928'>Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century</a> webinar with David Lee King.<br /><br />Lots of chitchat on the webinar about Joomla vs. Drupal opinions?<br /><br />And someone asked: Anyone recommend any good Drupal consultants?Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:23:22ZRE: Quantifying digital branch success?Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:37:55Z2009-09-15T20:37:55ZAnother person asked David: are those stats recognized by your state annual report?Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:37:55Z"real" v digital ---aren't they both REAL?Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:37:22Z2009-09-15T20:37:22ZAn interesting group of twitter comments on this during the <a href='/virtual-library/-/articles/content/80470928'>Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century</a> webinar with David Lee King.<br /><br />Another said:<br /><br />is a digital branch any less real?Jennifer Peterson2009-09-15T20:37:22Z