1. L i s a M . R a b e y
d i g i t a l . b i b l y o t h e k e
l i s a @ d e w e y d i s t r i c t l i b r a r y . o r g
K r i s t i n L a L o n d e
A n n A r b o r D i s t r i c t L i b r a r y
k r i s t i n @ d e w e y d i s t r i c t l i b r a r y . o r g
Critical Error:The need for Michigan libraries to represent themselves online.
http://blog.deweydistrictlibrary.org/

2. The Thesis:
 Many libraries in Michigan consider having an
online presence an option and not a necessity. This
however, is quickly becoming a dangerous position
for libraries to take.
 The time has come where it is no longer optional
for Michigan libraries to opt out of an online
presence; recent studies make it evident that
libraries that do not adapt to digital information
gathering techniques are dangerously becoming
irrelevant to their communities.

3. The Thesis:
 According to Pew Internet in 2010, 75% of
American adults have access to the Internet in
some form and a large percentage of these users
are engaging with civic, business or entertainment
online communities.
 Internet usage is growing sharpest for Baby
Boomers, not just those under the age of 25.
 Our presentation will show the growing necessity
of a well designed, accessible library website
contrasted with the poor quality of many Michigan
Public Library websites.

4. The Thesis:
 This contrast will illustrate our main argument,
that the possession of a content rich website
should rank on priority with other established
library services, such as a searchable catalog, in
order for Michigan Public Libraries to remain
relevant to their communities.
 We argue that the question for libraries should
no longer be if the library needs a slick,
information rich web portal but rather how the
library can get and maintain one affordably

5. Problems:
 Many Michigan public libraries are not keeping pace with
current online information gathering behavior.
 Abandoned web projects.
 No current or very little contact information.
 Underutilization of free online tools.
 No consistency with using same tools for different
projects.
 Content is stagnant or non-existent.
 No or little access to library services.
 Usability and accessibility needs are not addressed.
 Sites are not mobile/smartphone accessible.

6. Common Social Media Networks
Used by Public Libraries in Michigan

7. *How to social network
 Try it out: Personal before business.
 Create a blog or Twitter and Facebook accounts.
 Also – only begin with one or two technologies. Blog
and Twitter, Twitter or Facebook, then expand as
needed.
 Keep the content relevant but personable.
 All it takes is one person passionate about the
technology to make it work.
 Don’t feel guilty about logging into social networking
sites when at work – it can be used professionally!

8. CMO’s Guide
to Social Media
Landscape
http://www.cmo.com/social-
media/cmos-guide-social-media-
landscape
Choosing which
social media network
is right for your
institution can be
difficult as there are
so many options and
choices. This guide
helps breakdown the
major players and
why they may or may
not be of use to you.

9. Comparison between libraries that have websites,
national average vs. Michigan public libraries

10. Statistics:
According to ALA’s State of America’s
Libraries Report, 2010:
 60% [of Americans] renew their materials
online.
 57% access their library’s website on a
regular basis.
 Number of social networking users has
doubled in the last 2 years.

11. Statistics:
According to Pew Internet:1
 83% have cell phones or smartphones.
 35% access the web from their phones.
 17% own a smartphone2
 74% use the Internet.
 60% have broadband at home.
 46% have a laptop.
1 Pew Internet, Internet, broadband, and cell phone statistics, Jan 5, 2010
2 Mashable, Why Smartphone Adoption May Not Be as Big as You Think, August 26, 2010

12. Popular Content Management Systems (CMS) used for web
development in Michigan Public Libraries

13. Michigan Libraries using social media, broken
down by type.

14. Online representation,
Library class 1 (0-3999 population)

15. Online representation,
library class 2 (4,000 – 6,999 population)

16. Online representation,
library class 2 (7,000 - 11,999 population)

17. Online representation,
library class 4 (12,000 - 25,999 population)

18. Online representation,
library class 5 (26,000 - 49,999 population)

19. Online representation,
library class 6 (50,000 or over population)

20. Proposed Solutions:
 Issue: Abandoned web projects.
 Create a social media policy and a project management matrix
to ensure regular use, updates and maintenance.
 Issue: No current or very little contact information.
 Treat your web presence like your virtual front door. Provide
brick and mortar address, phone numbers and email
addresses. Be sure to update when necessary.
 Issue: Underutilization of free online tools.
 Popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube are
not only free to use but also provide tutorials.
 These sites also provide another level of engagement with your
patrons.

21. Proposed Solutions:
 Issue: No consistency with using the same tools for
different projects.
 When creating a social media policy, decide which tools are the best
for your library for each purpose. For example: If creating separate
blogs for adult services and teens, keep them on the same service
instead on differing ones for ease of use and updating.
 Issue: Content is stagnant or non-existent.
 Creating new content is important for keeping your patrons engaged
with your library online and off.
 Use a Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress,
Drupal or Joomla to build, manage and provide content on the fly.
 Library of Michigan, partnering with IMLS, has a program that will build
and deploy a site FOR FREE built on the popular Plone CMS derivative,
Plinkit.

22. Proposed Solutions:
 Services such as Facebook and Twitter make it easy to
update new content such as events, news, new services
and materials. Even better, these services can also be
updated at the same time via free services such as
HootSuite.
 Issue: No or little access to library services.
 At this point, it is absolutely imperative to have an OPAC
available and to make your collections searchable online.
Many, if not most, consortiums in Michigan provide this
service as well as technical support.

23. Proposed Solutions:
 Issue: Usability and accessibility needs are not addressed.
 Websites are created for the end user, not for the
designer. You should attempt to address the needs of
your community so that the visually and hearing
impaired have the same access to information as the non-
impaired.
 Issue: Sites are not mobile/smartphone accessible.
 You don’t have to build a new site from scratch for your
mobile users. Many popular CMS’s have plugins available
to do the work for you.

24. Bibliography
 ---. “The CMO's Guide To The Social Media Landscape.” Cmo.com. CMO: Digital Marketing Insight. 10 Feb 2010.
http://www.cmo.com/social-media/cmos-guide-social-media-landscape
 ---. “Internet, broadband, and cell phone statistics.” Pewinternet.org. Pew Internet, 5 Jan 2010.
 ---. “Michigan’s Home for Plinkit Libraries.” Library of Michigan. 2010. http://michlibrary.org/
 ALA. “State of America’s Libraries Report.” April 2010.
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/ALA_Report_2010-ATI001-NEW1.pdf
 Armano, David. “Six Social Media Trends for 2010.” November
2009http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cs/2009/11/six_social_media_trends.html
 boyd, danah. "Incantations for Muggles: The Role of Ubiquitous Web 2.0 Technologies in Everyday Life.” 28 March
2007. http://www.danah.org/papers/Etch2007.html
 Kagan, Marta. “What the F**K is Social Media: One Year Later.” Brand Infiltration. 2008.
http://www.slideshare.net/mzkagan/what-the-fk-is-social-media-one-year-later
 Kagan, Marta. “What is Social Media NOW.” Brand Infiltration. 2010. http://www.slideshare.net/mzkagan/what-is-
social-media-now-4747765
 O’Reilly, Tim. “What is Web 2.0: Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software.” O'Reilly
Media. 30 Sept. 2009. http://oreilly.com/lpt/a/6228
 O’Reilly, Tim. “Web Squared: Web 2.0 Five Years On.” Web2.0 Summit.” October 2009.
http://www.web2summit.com/web2009/public/schedule/detail/10194
 Rabey, Lisa. “Your Virtual Front Door: Defining the Use of Social Media for Archives and Libraries.” October 2010.
http://archivemediapartners.com/AMPed/category/virtual-front-door/
 Rogers, Curtis. “Social Media, Libraries, and Web 2.0: How American Libraries are Using New Tools for Public
Relations and to Attract new Users. Nov 2009. http://www.slideshare.net/crr29061/social-media-libraries-and-web-
20-how-american-libraries-are-using-new-tools-for-public-relations-and-to-attract-new-users-second-survey-
november-2009
 Rogers, Curtis. “Social Media, Libraries, and Web 2.0: How American Libraries are Using New Tools for Public
Relations and to Attract new Users. Nov 2009. http://curtisrogers.blogspot.com/2009/12/social-media-libraries-and-
web-20-how.html
 Sniderman, Zachary. “Why Smartphone Adoption May Not Be as Big as You Think.” Mashable.com. Mashable, 26 Aug
2010. http://mashable.com/2010/08/26/smartphone-adoption-trends/