Tumblin' with CraftySpace

What is an online community manager?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:27:07 -0800

The precise description of an online community manager varies from organisation to organisation. Some companies will describe the responsibilities of an online community manager very differently to others. Some will offer roles with very similar job descriptions but very different job titles. The issue is this – there is no standard definition as to what an online community manager is, or does. We are all still ‘feeling our way’. In this article, I’m going to outline the role and personality of an online community manager.

ricklibrarian: This Book Is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:17:09 -0800

ricklibrarian: This Book Is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson:

In a time of economic stress, when librarians are needed more than ever, yet library budgets are being cut, Marilyn Johnson speaks out in our behalf in her forthcoming book This Book Is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. Her message to anyone who will listen is that librarians are the “authors of opportunity.”

Hayward libraries to borrow Netflix mode

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:14:18 -0800

Hayward libraries to borrow Netflix mode:

HAYWARD — City libraries soon will offer a new borrowing system that borrows from Netflix, the mail-based, no-late-fee movie rental service. For a monthly fee, library users will be able to check out a limited number of materials for an unlimited amount of time. The optional system will eliminate due dates and overdue fees, asking for money upfront in return for no worries later. Pricing would begin at $2.99 a month for up to three items out at a time.

Focusing on the Green in Libraries

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:15:24 -0800

Focusing on the Green in Libraries :

Want to get that new book? Need some fresh magazines? Grab your library card and go on a free spree says Tainted Green. According to the Green Press Initiative, it takes around 30 million trees to produce all the books in the U.S. And that’s leaving out all the magazines and newspapers that cycle through the average American home.

Ebooks making libraries popular again, can do nothing about your 80s scrunchie

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:04:30 -0800

Ebooks making libraries popular again, can do nothing about your 80s scrunchie:

A few forward-thinking libraries in the UK have started offering ebook downloads as an alternative to borrowing physical copies of books, and the local public’s reaction has been one of overwhelming enthusiasm. Seemingly attracted by the idea of being able to collect and return books without having to actually attend the library, Brits have been eagerly joining up to the new scheme. Free downloads that last for 14 days before self-deleting can be had either in the library or at home, and transitioned onto your Sony Reader, iRex iLiad, or that new hotness, B&N’s nook. Naturally, the proprietary-format Kindle isn’t invited to this party. We’ve already seen a similar initiative in the USA, and can only hope this kind of convenience becomes mainstream before too long.

Library 101

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:02:55 -0800

Library 101:

David and Michael asked some widely known and respected folks in Libraryland to talk about what they see changing in libraries and what we need to be doing to ensure we remain relevant as technology and society evolve. And these folks have some VERY interesting things to say! Check out the essays below.

How to deal with bad apples in your online community

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:07:21 -0700

How to deal with bad apples in your online community:

No online community is perfect – there will come a time (if it hasn’t happened already) when a member becomes abusive or confrontational. Dealing with these bad apples can be a challenge – they will often stir up emotions and lead to a huge spike in member engagement and discussion. However, it’s unlikely that this is the kind of activity you want to see in your online community.

Library DrupalCamp

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:42:29 -0700

Library DrupalCamp :

Following up on my note to the Drupal4lib list, I propose that we have a library DrupalCamp. Presuming that this would be a one day event, I suggest Thursday, June 24th (ish) immediately proceeding ALA Annual in Washington, DC. Of course, it could be two days.

Formal or unconference?

If anyone is interested in getting involved or, preferably, taking charge of this, please step forward.

Invigorate your online community by closing it down

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:04:46 -0700

Invigorate your online community by closing it down:

Remember that community building takes time. That being said, sometimes an online community just won’t get off the ground. If you are struggling to encourage activity or if you want to build more of a buzz around your site, sometimes closing it down is the best course of action.

Social Network, Blog, and Comment Policies

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:01:52 -0700

Social Network, Blog, and Comment Policies :

Social Media Governance offers a database of Social Media Policies, a selection of corporate and government agency policies regulating their staff use of social networks, the internet in general, email, and more. There are also policies meant for their website’s users, such as commenting policies. These literally run the entire spectrum from the overly-restrictive and horribly unrealistically impractical to the open and modern policies we’re used to seeing in libraries.

The Accidental Library Marketer – a Book Review

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:11:31 -0700

The Accidental Library Marketer – a Book Review:

As Kathy says right in the introduction, “The Accidental Library Marketer fills a need for library professionals and paraprofessionals who find themselves in an awkward position: they need to promote their libraries and services in the age of the internet, but they’ve never been taught how to do so effectively.”

New Book! Drupal 6 Search Engine Optimization

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:17:04 -0700

New Book! Drupal 6 Search Engine Optimization :

Drupal 6 Search Engine Optimization is …. a practical, step-by-step guide that takes the mystery out of Drupal search engine optimization (SEO) by showing you the tricks of today’s top marketing pros to achieve top ranking in the search engines.

Redefining RA: The Ideal Tool

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:23:19 -0700

Redefining RA: The Ideal Tool:

Libraries are not so unlike market giants Netflix, Amazon, and Pandora. That is, they all thrive when librarians succeed at helping users make the next choice. Despite our significantly different business models and missions, we share an interest in facilitating the search for information, including what to read, view, and listen to next. The desire to harness data, user-oriented data, is driving innovation by these companies and others, and librarians of all stripes can and should learn from them.

Five Essential Apps for Your Nonprofit’s Facebook Page

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:57:03 -0700

Five Essential Apps for Your Nonprofit’s Facebook Page:

There are thousands of Apps in the Facebook App Directory that Nonprofit Admins could experiment with on your organization’s Facebook Page, but below I have highlighted my five favorite Apps to get you started.

How to build and maintain trust in online communities

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:49:27 -0700

How to build and maintain trust in online communities:

A vital element of a successful online community is trust. Without it, your community won’t be as strong as it could be – trust brings people together; it encourages people to share information and the more they share, the more others will share. Strong bonds result in a strong community. In this article, I’ll outline some of the ways you can build and maintain trust in online communities.

Conversation is Experience

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:04:44 -0700

Conversation is Experience:

Some web designers, especially those with a marketing or graphic design background, say they want to build an experience – but their designed experience, no matter who the website is for, tends to be designed like a movie or a rockstar’s website – heavy on the Flash, on the intro page (complete with low-pitched ominous music), and it makes cute noises when you click on a link.

That’s great for a movie or a rockstar website. But most of us are building library, organization and company websites. What type of “experiences” should we be creating for those types of websites?

Amazon tie-up considered in library service revamp

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:16:06 -0700

Amazon tie-up considered in library service revamp :

DVD-style home deliveries and tie-ups with internet firms such as Amazon could be the answer to ensure the future of libraries for the iPod generation, Culture Minister Margaret Hodge (UK) said today.

UK Librarians fight back against cuts with 'good library guidelines'

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:06:46 -0700

UK Librarians fight back against cuts with 'good library guidelines' :

New guidelines say that a good library should be accessible, with opening hours which suit local needs, and with regularly refreshed print, audio-visual and online resources. With the prospect of closure threatening up to a third of the UK’s libraries, a group of librarians have put together a set of guidelines to help the sector address its problems.

Should Your Library Have a Social Media Policy?

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:44:27 -0700

Should Your Library Have a Social Media Policy?:

A social media policy can help establish clear guidelines for staff members who are posting on behalf of the organization as well as employees with personal social media accounts. There are also standards being created for users, letting them know what’s acceptable to post to an organization’s blog and community pages.

Be Counted! Participate in the 2009-2010 public library technology survey

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:38:56 -0700

Be Counted! Participate in the 2009-2010 public library technology survey :

The 2009-2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey (http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding) conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Center for Library & Information Innovation at the University of Maryland (www.liicenter.org) is now available for completion at www.plinternetsurvey.org.