1) We’re using a blog/RSS feed to run our library news on our library homepage, and have used blogs for student worker communication, for construction projects, and for events (National Library Week). WE started using blogs about two years ago.
2) We’re using wikis in reference as training tools and for procedures. Probably been a year on that.
3) We use Flickr for library pics – about a year on this.
4) We have individual presences in Facebook
5) We’re exploring using Meebo for virtual reference
6) We hoped by using these to get students more involved by using their tools and to become familiar with t hem ourselves.
7) We haven’t really evaluated these as yet. We know students like the blogs for internal communication. Not many externally have commented. We’re not thrilled with the wikis.

Periodicals Librarian

• use IM (MEEBO) (for over a year)
• a blog for periodicals that has an RSS feed (for about 10 months). I chose MEEBO as a “point of need” option for user questions regarding periodicals.

Electronic Resources Librarian

• Blog for e-resource updates: http://eresources.wordpress.com/
• Blog feed that embeds e-resource updates into library web page (maroon box):
  http://www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/database/index.html
• Meebo box on e-resource pages
• Individual FaceBook profile
• Jing to easily and quickly capture video “how to’s” and screen images to send to patrons and vendors

Outreach Librarian

• Created a Wiki for staff communication (for storing shared evaluation materials)
• Created YouTube videos for public and staff use
• Created blogs for departments, public, and library staff. Not all caught on.

Reference/ILL & Document Delivery

• MEEBO as a chat service tool, used during a trial period, not kept
• RSS feeds active in ILLiad

What Web 2.0 tools are you using? Facebook to publicize our fall 2007 library orientation sessions, w/very
poor results, as our ad got snowed by the large Facebook advertisers, i.e., very few real views.
We got better results with the Facebook UWRF group event notice board, which we used for our extended hours announcement & our LibQUAL+ survey publicity.
Several staff members have Facebook pages.

We have Wikis for Ref. staff & student staff & ALA committee participation.

When did you start? Fall 2007

Why did you choose (or not choose) specific Web 2.0 tools? Facebook=e-mail+ to UWRF students.

What are you expecting to gain or achieve from these tools? Communication

Have you done any assessment on these tools? Just evaluating the success, or not, of the advertised events.

What Web 2.0 tools are you using? Blog, wikis (for staff use). Looking into RSS feeds for new books

When did you start? Blog and wiki about 2 years ago

Why did you choose (or not choose) specific Web 2.0 tools?
Blog—used for What’s New@the Library. It allows for many contributors in a timely fashion, thus more up to date than a web page. It is easy to use and free.
Wiki—used for working on documents between staff members
Instant Messaging—tried this for reference questions, but received no questions. Also tried virtual reference with the Wisconsin trial, but decided that a reference email account worked better for us.

What are you expecting to gain or achieve from these tools?
RSS—Currently do reports from Voyager and manually send to instructors alerting them to new materials in their subject areas. Would like to automate this more.

Have you done any assessment on these tools? If so what are the results showing? No assessment.

What Web 2.0 tools are you using?

• We started using a blog in April 2007 and allow comments (mediated). It has an RSS feed. It has not had a high number of comments, but we know people are reading it (one blog entry was copied into a faculty member’s blog—we were notified).
• We’ve offered an RSS feed (users can select by LC classification) for new acquisitions since 2006.
• Photos of the Library are on Flickr (linked to from our “About Us” webpage during the website redesign summer 2007 and shots are used in various other places as needed)
• Three reference librarians offer IM access (in addition to email and chat) with small usage so far.
• The library created a wiki for academic misconduct in Dec. 2006 which was rolled out in fall 2007. Minimal exposure, very minimal participation.
• Google gadget created and published spring 2008.
• D2L widget for a long time now.
• Reference librarians sometimes using del.icio.us for use with BIs since 2007.
• We’ve had a staff session on Library Thing with its tagging, and one staff member has been investigating Second Life.
• One librarian advertises himself as “library guy” on Facebook, and the library has a page there.

Selections of Web 2.0 tools was based on staff interest and discovery, difficulties encountered (we tried out Meebo and decided against it)

Expectations: Increased exposure and usage. Better idea of what users want/need and greater agility in helping them when they need it

Any assessment? Only anecdotal notice of usage (usually minimal)