Everything Old Is New Again: Digital Library Services

Sarah Houghton, MA, MLIS

e-Services Librarian, Marin County Free Library

Books to eBooks

Why do libraries offer eBooks?

1. Time, space, and cost savings

2. Reach new people in the community

3. Increase support for the library

4. Available 24/7 when the library isn’t open

Text eBooks

Presented as: – webpages (HTML)

to read online– page images (PDF)

to download for portable use

Audio eBooks

• Presented as downloadable digital audio files

• None are compatible with Apple products (e.g. iPods, Macs)

• What do they sound like?

Popular Subjects for eBooks

• Popular fiction

• Travel guides

• Business

• Technology

• Self-improvement

What’s Next For eBooks?

• Apple device compatibility

• Cheaper and cheaper = affordable for more libraries

• Smaller files = faster downloads

Reference to eReference

First we answered questions in person. Then we added the phone. Now…..

Virtual Reference: answering questions through an electronic medium

• e-mail • web-based chat• instant messaging

E-mail Reference• Fill out a form online, get an e-mail reply

• Turnaround time: 24-48 hours usually

• Detailed and local questions, adults

Web-based Chat Reference• Fill out a form on a webpage, start chatting

• Turnaround time: instant!

• All questions, users w/ higher-end PCs

Instant Messaging Reference• Uses popular IM programs (AOL, Yahoo)

• Turnaround time: instant!

• Homework & business questions, techies, kids, teens

What’s Next for eReference?

• More libraries offering instant messaging reference services

• Reference via cell-phone text messaging

• Video and audio reference (webcams)

New Publicity Frontier

• Traditional Library Publicity– flyers– print newsletters– newspaper blurbs– public service announcements

• The New Frontier– weblogs (blogs)– RSS

What’s with the Blogs?

• Blogs (weblogs) are websites• Updated frequently• Newer posts show up at the top• A “what’s new at the library”

• Keep patrons informed about events, new materials, online resources, recommended reading, good websites…….

Redwood City Library Blog

Marin County Free Library Blog

RSS feeds

RSS: Really Simple Syndication

• RSS figures out “what’s new” on the website

• Users choose what they want to read about from different websites (like the library)

• These feeds of “what’s new” on the site go into an aggregator

• Can read at your leisure

RSS Aggregator: BloglinesDifferent Sites

New Stuff from Site

What’s Next for Blogs & RSS?

• More libraries with blogs

• RSS feeds from library catalogs (starting already)– new books from favorite authors– new items in your interest areas (DVDs, etc.)– books are due soon

Questions?

Sarah Houghton

shoughton@co.marin.ca.us

AIM: LibrarianInBlack

http://www.librarianinblack.net