Hear this presentation!
Or, visit the wiki at http://arrt2point0.pbwiki.com/FrontPage
Part One: Blogs
Blogs have three primary advantages: they're easy to start (and can be implemented with or largely without your tech department), they help establish a voice and personality for your library, and they provide ownership for contributors.
Examples:
Madison Public Library's MadREADS (with tech support)
Williamsburg Regional Library Blogging for a Good Book (separate from library website)
Part Two: Reading Suggestion Forms
Reading suggestion forms can be a bit trickier to hook up without tech support, but with a bit of imagination, anything's possible. With more patrons placing holds and searching for specific titles, offering to make reading suggestions online or by email can also personalize your library's services.
Examples:
South Central (WI) Library System's BookAlikes: http://www.scls.info/reference/reads/index.html
Williamsburg Regional Library's Looking for a Good Book? service:
http://www.wrl.org/bookweb/RA/index.html
BookAlikes utilizes three pieces: the website, collaboration software BaseCamp, and Gmail.
Part Three: Resources
Blogging Softwares: WordPress, Blogger, TypePad (charges a fee)
Collaboration Softwares: PBwiki, Google Sites, BaseCamp (charges a fee)
Audio Software: Audacity and MP3Tweak
Library Reading Blogs:
Ann Arbor Public Library Book Blog
Reads from the Field (Plainfield Public Library--a hometown hero!)
Readers in the Mist (South Wales, Australia!)
Quick Picks from CMCL (Cedar Mill, Oregon)
Turning the Page (Cincinnati, Ohio)
HPL Book Hunt (Huntington, NY)
Shelf Talk (Seattle)
Any questions? Book suggestions? Just plain chat? Feel free to email me at [email protected].
This program is part of the RA 2.0 panel hosted by the ARRT, and featuring Monica Harris, Karen Kleckner, Karen McBride, and Sarah Statz Cords.