OLJ TASK : Building Academic Library 2.0

FIVE KEY PIECES OF ADVICE

1. Know your users - We really need to get to know our users as every school is unique and what works at one school may not be right at another.Find out what mobile devices are the most popular and most used amongst our student body and then work in partnership with the IT department to see if we can get our library information out to students using the technologies that are most appropriate.We also need to work out marketing strategies to reach students, staff and parents as some research is showing that students approach their parents first when faced with an assignment. Apart from utilising social networking technologies, library staff need to have a presence at parent information nights to market what we offer.

2. Go to where the users are - we need to embed what we are offering into the social spaces that they are using. Then, we can provide links to our website or blog so that the information they need is available immediately wherever they are. As above, we would need to collaborate with IT to get this started.

3. Be agile - We need to rethink patterns of behaviour and processes for change. Many suggestions can fall away because the procedures to implement change are so cumbersome and weighed down by committee approval that change can sometimes be too slow and the need has passed before action is taken. Our library needs to respond quickly to needs and we also need to have staff allowed time to do this.

4. Need to establish policies around social networking - Before jumping onto the social networking wagon we need to establish ground rules for interaction between staff and students. At the same time we need to be aware of not letting policy making extend so slowly that nothing appears to be happening at the forefront of the library. Policy would need to cover 'friending' and appropriate comment guidelines.

5. Develop a learning culture and risk-taking culture - this links in with the notion of building community and co-creation of content. As library staff we need to keep developing our own learning by acquiring any new skills needed to provide a quality service. We also need to allow staff and students to post developments and changes to add to the collective knowledge. Again, time, motivation and experience needs to built in to the day so that library information is up to date and relevant.