2. Extends reference service past our walls and website to
provide answers online, engaging current and potential
library users.
Participation includes posting useful, accurate information
on the Internet with a reference to Richland Library and the
participant’s role at Richland Library.
Furthers our strategic objectives:
-meets and serves customers where they are
-provides opportunities for staff to be “superstars”
-increases visibility and removes barriers to service
-promotes community
-drives engagement
What?
3. Embeds Richland Library librarians in online
communities, forums and knowledge bases, especially
those with ties to our physical facilities
“I’d like to see the library more actively supporting and
guiding book clubs in their selections, reading habits,
formation and discussions.“
~Melanie Huggins
What?
4. Two way communication in a digital venue
It’s a natural extension of our services and our jobs, given
the transformation libraries will undergo in the coming years
“We want to create libraries and services that […] provide
as much autonomy and convenience as our customers
desire…”
~Melanie Huggins
Why?
5. A marketing vehicle or tool
Efforts to do reference online are not done to
promote a library location, event, service, etc.
A “teaser” to get people into our facilities
Incomplete answers that end in an invitation to
find out more frustrate and alienate today’s users
Scripted in any way
Interactions with customers at the desk are not
scripted so online interactions won’t be either
Interactions should be professional and genuine
Predatory Reference is NOT
“Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.”
~Steve Jobs
6. Answering questions/Online reader’s advisory
Trolling selected sites looking for ways to provide
reference
Participation in established online groups,
communities
Contributions to online arms of groups already
meeting in our buildings
Formation of new special interest groups
As part of ‘listening’ efforts
See a need for a niche online group, create that
group forum
How?
Types of Participation
7. Approved participants should feel comfortable with
the options available.
The key is determining how exposed they would like to
be FIRST. Several options are available.
Identity Exposure
9. Not Facebook and Twitter/Social networks
Yahoo answers
If participant is logged in using a Facebook or Twitter account answers will be
associated with that account
Participant may use a pseudonym account
Gives you the opportunity to name your source, so use that space to state
your credentials, like: “I’m a librarian. We handle questions like this all the
time.”
You can also give a factual answer and then suggest your local library may
offer additional information, and provide the link to publiclibraries.com.
WikiAnswers
Some signature lines have been stripped by admins in the past per their rules,
so get creative with your user id/screen name. Use the word “librarian” in
your screen name.
For example:” librarian@Richland Library” or “helpful librarian”
Identity Exposure Level
Anonymous
10. Sarah
Librarian| Richland Library
1431 Assembly St. | Columbia, SC 29201
(p) 803.929.3422 | (f) 803.929.3438
Access Freely www.RichlandLibrary.com
Identity Exposure Level
Semi-Anonymous
11. Ask.com (register via Facebook, LinkedIn, or Ask.com account)
About.com (you apply to become a guide)
Pinterest (register via Facebook, Twitter, or an e-mail address)
Answerbag (register via Facebook or Answerbag account)
Blurtit (register via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or Blurtit account)
Mahalo Answers (register via Facebook,Twitter,Yahoo,Google,Windlows
Live Id, LinkedIn, OpenId, PayPal, AOL, Blogger, Wordpress, or Myspace)
Formspring.me (register via Facebook or Formspring account)
Allexperts (you apply to become a subject matter expert)
Chacha (you apply to become a guide)
Yahoo Answers (register via Facebook, Google or Yahoo account)
WikiAnswers (register via Facebook)
TwitQA (register with Twitter account)
Q&A Sites / Access
12. Participant is willing to associate posts with a first and last name, job
title and organization
Example:
Melissa Thigpen
Librarian| Richland Library
1431 Assembly St. | Columbia, SC 29201
(p) 803.929.3422 | (f) 803.929.3438
Access Freely www.RichlandLibrary.com
Identity Exposure Level
Disclosed
13. Facebook
Especially Richland Library and Columbia, SC pages
Join the “Answer Boards Librarians” Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/9325045378/
Twitter
Be a part of Slam the Boards on the 10th of every
month and tweet your answers using #slamtheboards
hashtag.
Google +
Identity Exposure Level
Disclosed
16. Why standard signatures are important?
Contains information that will associate the posts
with Richland Library, now and forever
When the same wording is used posts are all
indexed together by search engines
Import posts to our site
Track discussions and trending topics so we can
respond with appropriate content, lists and views
The Life of a Post
17. How does this fit into a librarian’s job?
It’s a natural extension of reference services, especially
given our strategic goal of meeting people where they
are
It reinforces relevance of the library and promotes
awareness of library staff as expert sources of
information
Logistics
18. Not every scenario is going to be covered right away
Expect evolution and change over time
Ask questions, try new things, be open
Please Ask Questions
19. Email us at:
PredatoryReference_mg@Richland Library.com
We will get back to you with further information.
If you decide you want to participate, please
get your manager’s approval first.
Interested?
