Internet Librarian: Web Trends & Innovations

Web Trends & Innovations
Me, Glenn Peterson, David King, John Blyberg

This program kicked off the first ever Public Libraries track at Internet Librarian, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.  Our four person panel delved into website trends and technologies.

Glenn Peterson from Hennepin County Library talked about using your reference staff to create content for your website, moving toward XML, using Rapid Development Environments (like Dreamweaver) to make web maintenance less techie and less time-consuming, and creating integrated subject guides on library websites (including websites, databases, reading lists, blogs, catalog links, and more).

David King from Kansas City Public Library talked about what some larger public library website are doing: Seattle Public, Phoenix Public, and New York Public.  He also closed the session with some predictions about where library web services are going: more interactivity, pushing content through RSS, more redesigns, and more services through instant and text messaging.

I talked about small libraries, and what they can do with no staff, time, or money, including blogging and RSS, simple linked subject guides and reading lists, quick one-click access to searches in the catalog (Quick Searches), simple online forms, and lightweight virtual reference options (my personal baby).

John Blyberg from Ann Arbor District Library talked about how his library uses Drupal and LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) to run their blog-based website.  What a great site with some seriously innovative thinking—a ton of interactivity options for the library’s users and staff.

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