Reference Outreach & Instruction

There has been a lot of talk about these two terms Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 in the past few months but what do they mean and how does this affect your library? To explain what Web 2.0 is we need to first understand what Web 1.0 is. Web 1.0 is the web’s first generation defined as searching or browsing sites to find and access information, products, and services. Web 2.0 evolves from this structure to a platform that supports relationships and services – both human and automated – across sites, and in the process is dramatically reshaping the way we use and interact with it.

It is the movement from the Semantic Web (Web 1.0) to the Social Web (Web 2.0). The Semantic Web relies on computers to generate and organize content and taxonomies are used for structure. With the Social Web, people generate, organize and analyze content and folksonomies are used for structure. From this, we transition into Library 2.0 which means turning library websites into interactive, user-centric sites that allow for user-contributed content and media-rich information such as email alerts, blogs, and intranet postings.

University of Pennsylvania has begun a social bookmarking experiment with their online catalog. PennTags, http://tags.library.upenn.edu/, allows users to communally collect and share web sites, links, blogs, and other content. OCLC has also begun allowing users to contribute content to library records as part of their Find in a Library web service accessible via Open WorldCat and WorldCat.Org. Users are able to add notes, tables of contents, and reviews.

Look for more information about Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 in the next issue of Reference Notes.

Posted by Carla Pfahl at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WebJunction releases “Trends in E-Learning for Library Staff: A Summary of Research Findings” Are you interested in learning how library organizations are pursuing e-learning? Do you want to know about the benefits and challenges? Would you like to know who your peers are turning to as they develop e-learning programs for staff training?

WebJunction announces the release of a new report: "Trends in E-Learning for Library Staff: A Summary of Research Findings." This report summarizes the information gathered in a 2005 survey of training and education in library organizations.

WebJunction began offering online courses to the library community in 2003. Recognizing that little data exists about the use of e-learning for staff training and education in library organizations, WebJunction commissioned an independent consultant to investigate this topic. This report is a compilation of key findings from the survey of 651 respondents across the United States.

Nearly 50 percent of library organizations surveyed are already implementing e-learning in some form. The report reveals their views on:

Coming Next Week! WebJunction Minnesota!

WebJunction Minnesota, an online service for the Minnesota library community, launches September 10, 2006. It is a collaborative effort of Minnesota State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education; MINITEX Library Information Network; Metronet, a Minnesota Multitype Library Cooperation System; and WebJunction.

WebJunction is an online community and portal that supports library staff with technology and library development materials; provides courses for online learning and professional development; and brings the library community together in online discussions and programs.

WebJunction Minnesota offers an online community space where Minnesota libraries and staff can share best practices, policies and procedures, learning opportunities, and expertise to promote high quality library services. Minnesota library staff will have access to all the resources of the global WebJunction site plus local content of interest to the Minnesota library community, free online courses, and local discussion forums. Content will grow and change according to Minnesota library community needs.

WebJunction Minnesota will be promoted in various venues this fall, including the annual conferences of the Minnesota Library Association and the Minnesota Educational Media Organization. Alert your colleagues in the library community to prepare for the launch by signing up now for a free user account at www.webjunction.org. Stay tuned for more details!

WebJunction Minnesota is funded in part with federal IMLS Library Services and Technology Act funds, administered by State Library Services in cooperation with MINITEX Library Information Network and Metronet. Minnesota joins nine other states - Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington - in the WebJunction Community Partner program.

Questions, comments, or suggestions for content? Contact Mary Ann Van Cura, State Library Services and WebJunction Team Lead, at maryann.vancura@state.mn.us, Jennifer Hootman, MINITEX Library Information Network, at hootm001@umn.edu, or Deanna Sylte, Metronet, at deanna@metrolibraries.net.

Posted by Jennifer Hootman at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The University of Minnesota Libraries' IMAGES Repository is an online image database highlighting collections from around the University of Minnesota. The digital collections included in this database are the following: