May 27, 2010 - Western Kentucky University Libraries Blog ... sites use Flash? ⦠search engine optimisation (SEO) ...
Pushing the NHS Library Presence Andy Prue NHS South East Coast
Bertha Low NHS West Midlands
SHALL IM&T Group 27th May, 2010
What we’d like to discuss today …
Issues What some libraries are doing? … examples What can be done? … suggestions
Issues
Demise of MyLibrary?
Library presence may be excluded from user’s journey of information discovery
New relationship with NHSE
NHSE helps expose “centrally purchased content funded by SHA”; local electronic content and services are not included
Disconnection between electronic resources and other library services, incl. physical library, reference service … etc. Lack of library presence in user journey
Issues … more
Seamless user journeys Strong library branding Forging “new” relationship with “our” user community … what else ??? Something that libraries always strive to achieve BUT have we done enough?
Issues … technological
Personalisation Localisation Mobile Social networking Just to name a few!
What some libraries are doing?
Deliver services in multiple channels
E.g. library websites and/or catalogues in mobile format E.g. library websites and/or catalogues in RSS E.g. library services via SMS
University of Wisconsin-Madison http://m.ebling.library.wisc.edu/#_home
District of Columbia Public Library http://dclibrarylabs.org/projects/iphone/
iPhone application Catalogue search Library hours, locations and maps Place items on hold
National Library of Health Sciences (Finland) http://www.terkko.helsinki.fi/english/mobile/articlerequest.php
Shrewsbury and Telford Health Libraries http://www.netvibes.com/sathlibraries#Welcome
Incorporate library functions in external environments
E.g. web browser extension E.g. widgets E.g. Google Scholar
A unified interface drawing together search facilities, user’s library profile, loans and requests Applicable for CamTools, Facebook and iGoogle, or embedding in web pages
Embedding Chat Widget in EBSCOhost Results List http://support.epnet.com/eds/widgets.html
BMJ on iGoogle http://resources.bmj.com/bmj/about-bmj/bmj-on-igoogle
Google Scholar Library Links Program http://scholar.google.co.uk/intl/en/scholar/libraries.html
For libraries which make their resources available via a link resolver Enable libraries to connect their holdings to Google Scholar, allowing library users coming from the libraries’ networks to use the service to find and access materials licensed by the libraries
Expose the library brand
E.g. Promote library expertise in social websites, e.g Digg, YouTube E.g. Claim map listings on major search engines E.g. Ensure that library websites are search-engine friendly E.g. Leverage social networking tools to engage with users
Western Kentucky University Libraries Blog http://library.blog.wku.edu/
Shrewsbury and Telford Health Libraries http://www.netvibes.com/sathlibraries#Welcome
Shrewsbury and Telford Health Libraries
Claim Map Listings
A search for “nhs library” on Google Maps doesn’t yield much!
Claim Map Listings
Claim Map Listings
Ensure that library websites are search-engine friendly
Considerations, e.g. Are library websites meeting the needs of end users? Are library websites using appropriate metadata? Do individual pages have corresponding unique URLs? Do library sites use Flash? … search engine optimisation (SEO)
Leverage social networking tools to engage with users
E.g. Library blog with user comments E.g. Facebook fan page
What can be done …
Nationally?
What role(s) can SIMTG play?
Regionally? Locally? On a shoe string?
Suggestions (1)
Know our users How do users access or search for information in the current digital environment? What are the user journeys to these resources (via ATHENS, NHSE, Google etc.)? What are the unique selling proposition (USP) of library services?
Suggestions (2)
Encourage library staff to learn and play Make technology fun for everyone e.g. Learning 2.0 http://plcmclearning.blogspot.com/ a “selfdiscovery learning” of 23 new technologies Develop a list of essential IT skills And keep updating the list!
Suggestions (3)
Push for NHS-wide guidance and/or infrastructure
Business case for the utilisation of Web 2.0 If Trusts are using Twitter to engage with patients, why can’t Trust libraries use Twitter to engage with healthcare staff?
Suggestions (4)
Push for infrastructure within NHS library community
SHALL subgroups work together Have we identified issues for other SHALL groups to consider today? Guidance on Web standards Libraries need to talk standards and make their data visible for and/or interoperable with other systems. HLISD Use this service registry to expose library services in other systems. ATHENS Use ATHENS as a “marketing” channel for specific user groups. Working more closely with NHS Evidence See examples …
Examples: Working more closely with NHS Evidence (1)
Examples: Working more closely with NHS Evidence (2)
Examples: Working more closely with NHS Evidence (3)
Suggestions (5)
Encourage innovations & disseminate good practices Identify champions Provide generic applications / tools for libraries to adapt and adopt Develop an application store and share codes
