A Risks and Opportunities Framework for Library 2.0 :A Risks and Opportunities Framework for Library 2.0 Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath, UK UKOLN is supported by: This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat) Acceptable Use Policy Recording of this talk, taking photos, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised. Resources bookmarked using ‘us-sla-200904' tag http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/events/us-sla-2009-04/ Email: b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/briankelly/ Blog: http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/


About Me :2 About Me Brian Kelly: National Web adviser to UK Universities and cultural heritage organisations Based at UKOLN, a national centre of expertise in digital information management and located at the University of Bath Involved in Web since January 1993 Information World Review’s Information Professional of the Year (2007-8) Over 300 presentations given since 1997 Current area of interest include Web 2.0, Web standards and Web accessibility Introduction


Using Tools I Talk About :3 Talks given in 2008 covered Web 2.0, accessibility & standards. Using Tools I Talk About Use of Web 2.0 technologies & approaches: RSS feeds for structured information Geo-location data Exploitation of 3rd party services Openness of resources Risk assessment / management approaches Introduction Note also use of blogs, video blogs, YouTube Twitter, …


Web 2.0 :4 Web2MemeMap, Tim O’Reilly, 2005 Characteristics Of Web 2.0 Network as platform Always beta Clean URIs Remix and mash-ups Syndication (RSS) Architecture of participation Blogs & Wikis Social networking Social tagging (folksonomies) Trust and openness Web 2.0 What Is Web 2.0? Marketing term (derived from observing 'patterns') rather than technical standards - “an attitude not a technology” Web 2.0


Library 2.0 :5 Library 2.0 Library 2.0: Term coined on LibraryCrunch blog Definition available on Wikipedia Also note: Arguments about validity of the term Quality issues regarding Wikipedia entry


Academic Library Example :6 Academic Library Example University of Wolverhampton provide 5 blogs to support academic departments An Electronic Resources Newsletter is driven by blog software. The information is available via: RSS Email


Academic Library Example :7 Academic Library Example A Facebook page provides: Brief factual information Links to key resources on main Web site Dynamic content embedded via RSS Calendar information embedded via Google calendar Ability for users to become ‘fans’


Academic Library Example :8 Academic Library Example Google calendar is used: For key library events To allow event details to be embedded in a variety of sites, including pages on institutional Web site


National Library Example :9 National Library Example National Library of Wales “Shaping the future: The Library’s strategy 2008-2009 to 2010-2011”: “We propose taking advantage of new online technology, including …Web 2.0 services … It is expected that the Library itself will provide only some specific services on its website. Instead, the intention is to promote and facilitate the use of the collections by external users, in accordance with specific guidelines.” Example of use of Web 2.0 services embedded within a Welsh Assembly Government funded project


Research Library Example :10 Research Library Example NRC-CISTI (National Research Council of Canada and Canada’s National Science Library & Publisher) is engaging with Web 2.0’s opportunities: Use of wikis to support collaboration by staff / researchers Use of SOA approaches to integrate services Popularity of Facebook in Canadian universities and challenges: Privacy laws (similar to EU) Multi-lingual issues Popularity of Facebook in Canadian universities ?


Benefits of Library 2.0 :11 Benefits of Library 2.0 Delivery Mechanisms (“network as platform”): Global outreach: maximise impact of and engagement with ideas Outsourced services: allowing organisations to focus on their strengths and small institutions to engage on more equal terms Exploits infrastructure: the standards (e,g. RSS) & services (Google, Amazon, ..) now in place User Benefits: User can create content Can comment on other’s content Users no longer passive consumers of content


Slide 12:12 Renaissance West Midlands workshop, Feb 2009


The Challenges :13 The Challenges Challenges Resources Expertise Time Money Understanding Legal Issues IT Services Colleagues Management Accessibility Sustainability Reliability Culturalissues Technical Issues Interoperability Privacy, DPA, FOI, .. Council


Take-up Of New Technologies :14 Take-up Of New Technologies The Gartner curve Developers Rising expectations Trough of despair Service plateau Enterprise software Large budgets … Early adopters


The Backlash Is Predictable :15 The Backlash Is Predictable When significant new things appear: Enthusiasts / early adopters predict a transformation of society Sceptics outline the limitations & deficiencies There’s a need to: Promote the benefits to the wider community (esp. those willing to try if convinced of benefits) Be realistic and recognise limitations Address inappropriate criticisms Web 2.0: It’s a silly name. It’s just a marketing term. There are lots of poor Web 2.0 services. There wasn’t a Web 1.0. What follows it? It does have a marketing aspect – and that’s OK. It isn’t formally defined – it describes a pattern of related usage. There will be poor (and good) Web 2.0 services – just like anything else. Any usage will arrive at a follow-up term. Twitter? Another silly name. Trivial junk. Only for people with nothing better evolves to We must have a Twitter feed – impact; marketing; audiences; … and then (from the early adopters) It was meant to be fun. It’s been institutionalised, We want it back!


What Do We Mean By ‘Risk’? :16 What Do We Mean By ‘Risk’? “Risk is a concept that denotes the precise probability of specific eventualities” When should we take risks? Never If the probability is low If the dangers are insignificant If the context if appropriate But what if human life is at risk: In the army Driving a car Travelling on the train … We can’t ignore the context, the benefits (real and perceived) or the costs


Hitchhiker’s Guide :17 Hitchhiker’s Guide Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s guide described “an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea” and went on to add: “Many were increasingly of the opinion that they’d all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. And some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no one should ever have left the oceans.“


From ‘Librarian Coelacanth’ to ‘Librarian Sapiens’ :18 From ‘Librarian Coelacanth’ to ‘Librarian Sapiens’ Librarian Coelancanth:  Rarely spotted in the wild (sometimes found in the depths of the library). “almost worthless” - species that failed to take risks & evolve. What species are you?


Beware The IT Fundamentalists :19 Beware The IT Fundamentalists We need to avoid simplistic solutions to the complexities: Open Standards Fundamentalist: we just need XML Open Source Fundamentalist: we just need Linux Vendor Fundamentalist: we must use next version of our enterprise system (and you must fit in with this) Accessibility Fundamentalist: we must do WAI WCAG User Fundamentalist: must do whatever users want Legal Fundamentalist: it breaches copyright, … Ownership Fundamentalist: must own everything we use Perfectionist: It doesn't do everything, so we'll do nothing Simplistic Developer: I've developed a perfect solution – I don't care if it doesn't run in the real world Web 2.0: It’s new; its cool! IT Services Coelacanth Organisational culture


The Librarian Fundamentalists :20 The Librarian Fundamentalists Librarians who have failed to evolve: Think they know better than the user e.g. they don't like people using Google Scholar; they should use Web of Knowledge (who cares that users find it easier to use Google Scholar & finds references they need that way?) Think that users should be forced to learn Boolean searching & other formal search techniques because this is good for them (despite Sheffield's study). Don't want the users to search for themselves (cf folksonomies) because they won't get it right. They still want to classify the entire Web - despite the fact that users don't use their lists of Web links. Want services to be perfect before they release them to users. They are uneasy with the concept of 'forever beta' (they don't believe that users have the ability to figure things out themselves and work around the bugs). Library Coelacanth Organisational culture


Let’s Be Realistic :21 Let’s Be Realistic Ning allows you to set up and manage your own social network. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But: Will it have the momentum to support thriving discussion? Might it not just be an automated aggregator of content Over-hyping expectations


Let’s Be Realistic :22 Let’s Be Realistic Want to provide a safe social networking environment? You can with Ning. But what of the pitfalls? “Am I bovvered?” Over-hyping expectations


Let’s Be Realistic :23 Let’s Be Realistic A UK National Archives Network Ning site is available It is being used to support discussions such as a follow-up to a topic raised at meeting But do the concerns about numbers of participants & amount of discussions really matter? Can you identify success or failure without knowing purpose, investment, …? Over-hyping expectations


Accessibility Concerns :24 Accessibility Concerns Aren’t Social Web services: Inaccessible to people with disabilities? Break accessibility guidelines (WCAG) Leave us liable to be taken to court? People with disabilities are using Social Web services People with disabilities are using Social Web services – as are disability activists DDA: Institutions must take ‘reasonable measures’ to ensure PWDs aren’t discriminated against. Is it discriminatory to fail to provide services? Accessibility


The Council Firewall :25 The Council Firewall The reality: Useful Web services do get blocked There is dodgy/illegal/ dangerous material on the Web It may be simple to have a blanket ban Suggested approaches: We can accept certain levels of risks More sophisticated responses are needed We should share the approaches we’ve taken New Internet access policy for childrenFrom December 2008, children will be able to enjoy improved Internet access in all Portsmouth Libraries. The current “Walled Garden” arrangement will be discontinued. The Internet access offered will be similar to that provided in Portsmouth schools but we will also be allowing access to games, Web chat and social networking sites. For further information, please contact … Feel free to respond to blog post at Organisational barriers


Sustainability Concerns :26 Sustainability Concerns What happens if Archive 2.0 services: Are unreliable? Change their terms and conditions (e.g start charging)? Become bankrupt Things to remember: Services may be unreliable e.g. Twitter Market pressure is leading to changes to T&C – & paid-for services may become free (e.g. Friends Reunited) Banks may go bankrupt too – but we still use them Need for risk assessment and risk management Sustainability


Interoperability Issues :27 Interoperability Issues What happens if Social Web services host your data and: You can’t get the data back out? You only get the unstructured or poor quality data back out? You can’t get the comments, annotations, tags out? There’s a need to: Ensure data export capabilities or Upload data from an alternative managed sources Understand limitations of data export / import and make plans around limitations Interoperability


Support Issues :28 Support Issues I don’t have the time to: Understand it all Use the technologies Embed technologies in daily working practices Train my colleagues Common Craft video clips You can: View them at work Listen to the podcast on the Tube Use them in training Training & staff development Note UKOLN’s workshops for cultural heritage sector and briefing documents with CC licences


Measuring & Maximising Impact :29 Measuring & Maximising Impact What if your Library 2.0 services fails to have the expected impact? There’s a need to: Monitor impact Maximise impact Justify impact Ensure ethical approaches are taken Ensure incorrect assumptions aren’t made Impact Assessment Further work in this area under development: e.g. using Twitter to ‘pimp’ up posts; ethical dimension; maximising impact vs maximising statistics; what should funders expect; …


Deployment Strategies :30 Deployment Strategies I want to do use the Social Web but: The IT Services department bans it The council bans it My boss doesn’t approve Area of interest to UKOLN: “Just do it” Subversive approach – ‘Friends of Foo’ if Foo can’t use it Encourage enthusiasts Don’t get in the way UKOLN briefing papers available with Creative Commons licence. (over 30 docs published)


Deployment Strategies :31 Deployment Strategies Interested in using Web 2.0 in your organisation? Worried about corporate inertia, power struggles, etc? There’s a need for a deployment strategy: Addressing business needs Low-hanging fruits Encouraging the enthusiasts Gain experience of the browser tools – and see what you’re missing! Staff training & development Address areas you feel comfortable with Risk and opportunity management strategy …


Risk Management :32 Risk Management JISC infoNet Risk Management infoKit: “In education, as in any other environment, you can’t decide not to take risks: that simply isn’t an option in today’s world. All of us take risks and it’s a question of which risks we take” Examples of people who are likely to be adverse stakeholders: People who fear loss of their jobs People who will require re-training People who may be moved to a different department / team People .. required to commit resources to the project People who fear loss of control over a function or resources People who will have to do their job in a different way People who will have to carry out new or additional functions People who will have to use a new technology


IWMW 2006 & Risk Management :33 IWMW 2006 & Risk Management IWMW 2006 has taken a risk management approach to its evaluation of Web 2.0 technologies: Agreements: e.g. in the case of the Chatbot. Use of well-established services: Google & del.icio.us are well-established and have financial security. Notification: warnings that services could be lost. Engagement: with the user community: users actively engage in the evaluation of the services. Provision of alternative services: multiple OMPL tools. Use in non-mission critical areas: not for bookings! Long term experiences of services: usage stats Availability of alternative sources of data: e.g. standard Web server log files. Data export and aggregation: RSS feeds, aggregated in Suprglu, OPML viewers, etc.


The Risks Within The Sector :34 Headline in the Guardian, 7 July 2007 The Risks Within The Sector The Guardian subsequently apologised for errors – the situation wasn’t as bad as reported ? This was before the credit crunch and HEFCE’s John Selby warning of “troubled financial times ahead for the educational sector” ?


Are We Repeating Our Mistakes :35 Are We Repeating Our Mistakes In 2000 the threats were the external challenges provided US universities. Today the threats are the external challenges provided by Google, etc.


Headlines For 2010? :36 Headlines For 2010? “Tories Win General Election” “Drastic Cuts in Public Sector Funding” “Market place to have increased role in public sector” “Review of public sector Web services” “Digital Lame Ducks condemned”


Critical Friends :37 Critical Friends JISC U&I programme is encouraging establishment of “Critical Friends” See


Let The Public Know :38 Let The Public Know “The paper sets out to answer this question by way of original research and experimentation on real data sets of museum objects, obtained from a number of UK museums by way of a Freedom of Information request.” Frankie Roberto as a Critical Friend Social services, communities, etc. are now being used to seek evidence of value-for-money. We need to be able to demonstrate appropriate processes are in place.


Critical Friend Of The Library :39 Critical Friend Of The Library Peter Murray-Rust, a UK-based chemist has started a debate on the “libraries of the future”


Towards a Framework :40 Towards a Framework “Time To Stop Doing and Start Thinking: A Framework For Exploiting Web 2.0 Services”, Museums & the Web 2009 conference


Using The Framework :41 Using The Framework Use of approach in two scenarios: use of Twitter & Facebook Note personal biases!


Use The Framework Yourself :42 Use The Framework Yourself Feel free to you apply framework to: Services you’re planning Existing services Large scale initiatives (e.g. Creative Spaces) What is the purpose? Who are the users? What are the benefits? To whom? What are the risks? To whom? What are the risks of doing nothing? What are the costs – to developers, to users,… Remember the biases! Is the service really intended to sustain the service provider? Remember the need for the critical friend and the need for sharing?


Conclusions :43 Conclusions The Web Tech Guy and Angry Staff Person post provides a useful summary for this talk! Acknowledgments to Michael Edson for this wonderful comic strip