7 Special Libraries in the Digital Ethnography of Social Networks

Dr Renu Arti Thakur

    Introduction

 

Special libraries are the libraries for individuals at work (Zacturet, 1989) who offer organisation oriented collections that improve the productivity, competitive positions, and mission fulfilment. The librarians are trained in managing information resources and providing library services to users. These services are designed to bridge the gap between users’ information needs and therefore, the efficiency of all accessible resources. Therefore, a special library is that cluster of distinctive librarian- designed information services sponsored by an organisation for its manpower.

 

In the pre 1900 period the libraries were reciprocally sponsored. Within the 1900 century company libraries just like the business banks, insurance corporations, industrial producing and consulting companies came into commence (Zacturet, 1989). These libraries served the professionals like lawyers, statisticians, scientists, engineers and businessmen. The conception of collecting information resources developed over a broad variety of organisations like governmental, business, historical, professional, technical or professional training, etc. the professionals in these organisations conventionally performed the ‘information function’ at the side of other responsibilities. This presents the retrospective usage of the libraries (Moore, 1987, Kruzas, 1965, Zachert, 1966). An early special library included the standard books, periodicals and primary sources for their mission. Every library was an island with its own pattern of organisation through classification, subject heading, indexing, remotely cognizant at this stage of its isolation. In 1876, American Library Association had been founded and it becomes a meeting place of special libraries. Whereas in 1898, the Medical Library Association was instituted and therefore the Special Library Association was founded in 1909 and therefore the term ‘special library, came into existence (Zachert, 1989).

 

By the advent of computers in 70s the quantity of special libraries has stabilized at the side of individual libraries and perpetuated to grow. By the Nineteen Eighties AT& T boats thirty seven libraries, eighteen specialised information centres and fifty five information “nodes” electronically tied into a system (Perriman and Donald, 1987/88). International giants like Xerox, introduced two major information hubs, and other than thirty special libraries in Silicon Valley, in the United States, and an unidentified range of knowledge services entities in Europe and Japan (Lavendel 1987/88). Library automation wasn’t to be enforced prosperously till this development had occurred, primarily signalled by the engenderment and widespread adoption of the MARC and ISBD standards (D. Reynolds, 1993).

 

The computer-based services have probably captivated the library premises. ICT provides librarians the prospect for more efficient processing, ameliorated services to library users, saving money, and facilitating resource sharing and library cooperation, all concerns central to their traditional operation. However, library automation commenced essentially in an environment of intricate misunderstandings that took some time and effort to dispel (Rayward, W. Boyd, 2002). This drift in technology led to the digitisation of the libraries. The bibliographic access tools of the earlier period have gone online; communication between special libraries has become electronic, also as- in several instances- communication between the libraries and their users. The special libraries just like the business corporations have adopted the strategy of marketplaces and become geographically independent and a service typically incorporates knowledge on laptop screens (Will, 1989). Traditionally the Libraries are regarded as the warehouse of books, so the library is collected, and organised concept and construct retrieved by its users and ultimately led to another new idea. The library has evolved unendingly to stay up with the dynamic needs of their users. The library covers the software and hardware that library use integrated library system. Modifiable automation systems and catalogues are preferable to proprietary closed systems. Special library provides the special services to the researchers and other library community that are often using the electronic services and acquire a critical demand for information discovery. Therefore, the libraries have become an enthusiastic adopter of the social network to reinforce the social communication and knowledge transfer to the users and its community. Several libraries have created encouraging advances in their electronic offerings by providing access to finest databases, downloadable audio books and music, and instant messaging reference services. Thence there are several instruments through which the target of Library 2.0 may well be achieved. This chapter concentrates on the current digital ethnography of the library services for the service providers and library service users. It’s the Web 2.0 service currently has a tendency to operate the library services to concentrate in this chapter.

 

1.  Digital Ethnography

 

Worldwide the society is experiencing a major technological drift across the geographical, social and economic parameters. The users irrespective of their social status utilise the digital technology for the communication. Hence, the sphere of digital ethnography targeted online phenomenon to studying how online society, practices and life forms integrate cumulate and seep off line social life. Digital ethnography is also known as netnography, virtual ethnography (DEW, 2012).

 

Masten and Plowman (2003) introduced digital ethnography as the modern technique to analyse the users demand and needs on the social network and verbalise:

 

“In essence, Digital Ethno is the modern, digital equivalent of traditional, Malinowskian ethnographic forms. The critical distinction is that while traditional ethnographies physically immerse themselves in distinct places and their cultures, digital ethnographies capitalize on wired and wireless technologies to extend classic ethnographic methods, like participant observation, beyond geographic, as well as temporal, boundaries. This method is ideally suited to documenting the fluidity and flexibility already distinguishing contemporary cultures and communities. Participants communicate their experience via the Internet and other digital technologies. Digital ethnographers gather these details, whether they’re in the form of words, images, or audio files, and determine their significance as they are played out in the context of participants’ lives.”

 

2. Conceptual definition

 

The ethnographical variations have also conquered the library and information facilities. The culture of digital libraries turns to the social libraries where various social media are used or showed possibility to be used for furthering the library accessibility. Some of the social media and respective usage and their significances in libraries are mentioned within the following sections.

 

2.1. Web 2.0

 

Web 2.0 is usually related to Internet applications that encourage interactive information sharing, user-centred style, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. A Web 2.0 website offers its users the free options to move or collaborate communicated and sharing of information with one another during a social media exchange of ideas as creator of user-generated content during a virtual community. It represents a shift from the passive expertise of static “read only” web content to the participatory expertise of dynamic and interactive web content. Alternatively, Web2.0 reflects modifications in using the online instead of describing any technical or structural change. Social Networking Sites, Blogs, Audio and Video-sharing Sites, Web Application, Mashups, Folksonomies etc. are the examples of Web2.0 (Wikipedia, 2013, Slainte2.0, 2012)

 

2.2. Library 2.0:

 

The term Library 2.0, first coined by Michael Casey in 2006 on his blog Library Crunch. It refers to a number of societal and technological implications which have an impact upon libraries, and its services. The application of Web 2.0 technologies to the library services has incarnated present generation of library services to satisfy the demands and expectations of users.

 

2.3. Blogs:

 

Blogs are online tools for users to publish content on the Internet which permits the users to publish text, images, audio and videos online. The features like RSS Feed, Comment, Archiving, and design templates provided, which can be customized simply according to the need and interest of the user. Some of the blog providers are: Blogger (http://www.blogger.com), Xanga (http://www.xanga.com),LiveJournal (http://www.livejournal.com), WordPress (http://www.wordpress.com) etc. These services enable the users to submit quires, demands and suggestions relating to the library serve. Users submit quires, demands and suggestions regarding the library services. These demands/ suggestions are often used for the collection development. Blogging provides a marketing platform and a discussion forum for library services.

 

2.3.1. Twitter

 

Twitter is a micro blogging real time social media. Through this a hundred and forty characters are often tweeted. The following can be made by the subscribers on latest tweets.

 

2.4. Instant Messaging:

 

In the online era there are many software and web-based services which allow users to communicate with the assistance of text, audio, video, or a combination each other at a time, through the Internet. The software which provides the services of instant messaging are: AIM (or AOL Messenger) (http://aim.com), Google Talk (http://www.google.com/talk), MSN Messenger (http://get.live.com/messenger), Yahoo! Messenger (http://messenger.yahoo.com), ICQ (http://icq.com), Skype (http://www.skype.com) etc. Through the instant messaging the librarian can provide Ovid synchronised communication to resolve the quires of the exploiters.

 

2.5. Social networking site:

 

The social networking site provides a platform for sharing the profiles and updates by creating communities with their patrons. Some social network sites are: Facebook- (www.facebook.com), Myspace (www.myspace.com), Flickr (www.flickr.com), Google+ etc. It’s an innovative way to provide library services to the patrons. Through these services librarians can interact and share the resources with the patrons and partner libraries. They can provide the information regarding the provision of the resources by interacting the library users. The user content is often added to the library catalogue. Library-related Facebook pages/ applications are: Facebook Apps for Libraries (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2469777131), Library-related projects on Flickr: Library of Congress (including other cultural institutions) (http://flickr.com/commons) etc.

 

2.5.1. Facebook:

 

Facebook has one billion users which embrace 600 million mobile users and 552 million daily users. It targets the people of age group of 18- 25 years that is about twenty ninth of the whole users and they spend 405 mins per month (Gillard, 2013). Facebook provides an opportunity to create profiles, group and pages. Profiles are generated just in case of individual users and groups are created for communities’ centred approach hosting for the book clubs, group, courses etc. and targeted on discussions and community. Pages are often designed for organisations, businesses and foundations. The users of the organisation would build ‘likes’ to the page to ascertain Newsfeeds. The Facebook Insights provide knowledge on the Facebook page regarding the likes, friends of fans, individual talking regarding this i.e. who have created a story regarding the page etc. To the administrator.

 

 

2.5.2.  Pinterest:

 

Pinterest is a web pin board that enables organising and sharing things. This may be utilised in pinning the book covers, showcasing historic archives learning associated with infographic, reading lists can be created, highlighted the library staff and details. Sharing can be done on the new arrivals. The library activities are boosted by adding fillers. Link of the online databases can be pinned on the home. The library using Pinterest are:http://pinterest.com/msstatelibrary,http://pinterest.com/addisonlibrary, http://pinterest.com/missorlalibrary, etc.

 

2.5.3.  Instagram :

 

Instagram is essentially shared the images and commenting on the pictures. It can be utilized with the help of Facebook accounts. It’s the foremost fashionable media used among adolescents, thence can be utilised by libraries for teenagers.

 

2.6. Podcasts :

 

The podcasts include an audio file, which can be simply downloaded, and made accessible on a website. Podcasting is often provided promotional recordings can highlight new resources. The lectures and speeches are often podcasted on the library website.

 

2.7.   RSS & RSS Readers:

 

RSS & RSS Readers subscribed for the new delivery service, through which the information about the new issue is published. The library can avail the service and can provide an announcement platform for the new arrivals. The users signed for the alerts for the announcements of the provision of the new; library service, events/ information/ knowledge sources/ services straightaway get updated. Sothington Library and Museum and LIS Feeds aggregated collection Lib feeds availing this service.

 

2.8.    Social bookmarking:

Social bookmarking saves the browser links to different websites and build it in public accessible (e.g. as a URL in your blog or website). These are managed by the tags that act as keywords act as subject headings, and find out a lot more bookmarks, that others have used. This method is often applied within the OPACs in order to save the searches through the catalogues. The social bookmarking sites are: Delicious (http://www.delicious.com), Netvouz (http://www.netvouz.com), Furl (http://www.furl.net), Magnolia (http://ma.gnolia.com) etc.

 

2.9.   LinkedIn:

 

LinkedIn will connect with consultants within the several fields of interest of users. This may be used as a platform to supply services like SDI among the special library users.

 

Nowadays, the special libraries are turning to the Internet primarily based services observed as Web2.0. ‘The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) support the adoption of these latest technologies that would enhance the quality of library service delivery. SLIC and CILIPS are now operating through Web2.0 services. The incorporation of services, like Flickr, Twitter and SlideShare, has increased the communication model. It has enabled higher support which promotes library services. (Slainte2.0, 2012).

 

3.  Need of web 2.0 services in special libraries

 

‘Web2.0 services embedded in several areas of life as more and more individuals, from all groups including youngsters, professionals, business, governing bodies etc., who recognise and exploit these online interactive tools. Similarly, libraries and librarians everywhere the world square measure are using Web2.0 technologies to advertise services, sharing information, and have interaction with users and network with the colleagues, on an international level. Social media websites have well prospective to reinforce the delivery of library services to the library users and contribute to the professional development of library staff. As service users more and more return to expect interactive online services in all fields of life, libraries should keep up the developments elsewhere so as to make certain a responsive service for the long term.’ (Slainte 2.0, 2012). The social media make ‘special library services obtainable at the purpose of need instead of naming the users come back to the services. Introducing a special library services in a wide range on the far side the library, like websites, virtual learning environments etc. This enables information to be, discovered and manipulated in a variety of ways are applied that originally created or accessed it. Social media will build applications that may be made of variety of various sources, build applications that may be deployed and are lightweight, flexible, intelligent, and conscious of user desire. It has made simpler communication with community and user participation (Pandey and Pandey, 2009). The social media are well adapted to the mobile devices. That’s why we’d like to introduce this social media in the libraries.

 

4.  Digital ethnography of the modern special library services

 

Special library provides a user based services. These provide an organised access to relevant, current and authorised information sources. ICT had expedited the digital information access for the library users to sustain the mission of the organization. Special libraries provide the personalised user oriented services to fulfil their demands more quickly and accurately through the CAS and SDI services by matching the users profile and needs. The information hence flows either one-way or biface. However through the web services the knowledge flows multidirectional that sometimes depends on the character or ability to supply or ask for information Web2.0 surroundings provide an interactive platform for both the information provider and therefore information seeker. In this section the some of the important interactive web 2.0 based services are discussed:

 

4.1. Acquisition / collection development

 

Today most of the publishers have their websites. They are hosting the online services the book selling is promoted through the social services. These are often used a supply of acquiring the information on new books for collection development. Libraries created access to the electronic books from publishers and aggregators. Some of them are E-brary (http://site.ebrary.com), Mylibrary (http://lib.myilibrary.com/home.aspx) etc. The library can access to electronic journals and bibliographic databases from a variety of publishers and aggregators. Amazone is using an RSS feed for new releases, the Bio MED Central is using various social media tools like the RSS feed, Blog for latest news in the medical field.

 

WorldCat provides the information that represents the ‘collective collection’ of the libraries in the world. The OCLC WorldShare Platform extends the worth of WorldCat and different library knowledge by providing access within the type of Web services and tools for library developers, users and partners to form and share applications. (OCLC World share)

 

4.2. Technical processing of information sources

 

Library of Congress through web based services are built the library access to latest authoritative tools associated with quicker technical process (classification and cataloguing) of the documents.

 

4.2.1. Classification

 

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system is a knowledge organization tool which allows the libraries to share Dewey numbers through a range of ways is through WorldCat, the OCLC Online Union Catalog. Web Dewey 2.0 is a web version of the Dewey Decimal Classification system. The library can have unlimited access to an enhanced version of the DDC 23 database by using the information from a commonplace applications programme i.e. standard Web browser. As Web Dewey provides primarily a subscription based service; the library automatically receives updates to the DDC system. Web Dewey 2.0 can be used for the purposes, like browsing mechanism for resources on the Internet, access to the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and related information, search Dewey numbers, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Mapped MeSH, and BISAC headings, access to authority records from links within the Web Dewey records in one or more OPACs and wherever own notes can be added. The links for searching and locating user links to the primary classes and tables are also provided (WebDewey 2.0: An Overview). The services of Web Dewey2 can be shared through Facebook and Twitter. Add own online notes in WebDewey 2.0 to reflect local classification practices which can be shared with others in the library. By using Web Dewey repetitive tasks can be avoided and so reduces long tasks with automated options and faster keyboard navigation.

The Dewey blog (http://ddc.typepad.com) is a great social media for news and views on classification issues. It’s also a convenient way to share feedback on the DDC editors form long run of the DDC.

4.2.2. Cataloguing

 

Resource Description and Access (RDA) Toolkit (http://www.rdatoolkit.org/) was published on July 9, 2013. RDA Toolkit contains updates to content and metadata; provide enhancements to the practicality of RDA Toolkit, and repairs to existing bugs. RDA designed on the premise of AACR2. It provides a comprehensive set of guidelines and instructions on resource description and access covering all types of content and media. It is an integrated, browser-based, tool that permits users to interact with an assortment of cataloguing documents and resources together with RDA. The Bookmarks can be created in the Toolkit, which help in navigating quickly rather than browsing or searching. The RDA user will keep updated through the media like Facebook and Twitter. RSS development feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/RdaToolkitDevelopmentBlog) can be subscribed to form notification of releases. (RDA, 2013)

 

Library Thing is an online service to catalogue books easily. One can access the catalogue from anywhere—even on the cellular phone. Library Thing connects individuals with the similar interests in knowledge sources, and offers suggestions for what to read next, and so forth. Library Thing for Libraries (http://www.librarything.com/forlibraries/ LTFL) provide a fully integrate Library Thing’s social data in the catalogue which allows to add tag-based browsing, ratings, reviews, book recommendations, stack maps, virtual shelf browsers its facilities to the library OPAC. (Library Thing, 2013)

 

4.3. Reference Services /instruction

 

Several libraries have started the real time digital reference serves by using chat software, web contact software etc. Reference librarians are being contacted for interactive reference services and answering the reference queries is a professional and skilled task, which need understanding with the subject. In the digital environment the reference services are provided through the email reference services and real time digital reference services. In the Web 2.0 environment the reference services are often provided through the Wikis, Blogs, instant messaging, RSS, Tagging, Mashups, Podcasting, etc. Blogging can provide the news and links to the library; RSS feeds for users include updates on new items in a reference collection and databases; Podcasting may involve library tutorials, interviews, stories, news, etc.

 

The use of social networking tools enable librarians to identify library patrons on the social cyberworld and pro-actively give a sort of knowledge that may usually result from reference service. The web services like Ask a Librarian, Meebo Twitter, Instant messaging; Voice on Protocol etc. are often used for the property referral services.

 

4.4. Document delivery service

 

The Document delivery refers to the service through the documents that are provided to users. This involves the provision the documents to the users on demand. Before the appearance of ICT, library used to provide documents from its own then through the interlibrary loan till mid of 20th century. The document delivery was done through photocopying later in 1970s. The appearance of ICT to supply documents in electronic/ digital forms in library networks enabled the readers to receive the documents instantly. Online searches and downloading is done through the web based search. These text files are then sent to the relevant CD-ROM database. The network primarily based CD-ROM search services are often created accessible on the computer network. IIT Delhi library website is providing this service by having the collections of Indian Standards, ASTM Standards, IEC standards. (http:// library.iitd.ac.in.)

Infotrieve is the global leader to enhance the access to e-content and promote collaborations through secure social networking tools by providing a cloud based document delivery service (http://www.infotrieve.com/share-and-collaborate). It has released the first series of thought leadership briefings on how secure social media and collaboration was having dramatically neutering the landscape of scientific document delivery. It discharges the informing to assist CIOs, IT leaders and users of corporate libraries perceive how cloud computing can facilitate a host of new features in an STM document delivery system. It delivers documents quickly, cost-effectively and copyright acquiescently. Infotrieve delivers nearly one million documents annually, and more than seventieth are provided electronically in five minutes or less. NRC-CISTI Canadian National Science Library Collection is managed by Infotrieve (http://www.infotrieve.com).

 

4.5. Marketing library and information services

 

Most of the library users don’t seem to be aware of the varied services give within the library. The library may create subject specific blogs, pages, and communities and provide its users a platform for scholarly discourse. The groups are often created so as to plug the library services and conjointly to carry the general public messages, remarks, queries and discussions. The attention relating to the library services are often administrated via social media i.e. Facebook, Flicker, Blogs etc.

 

5.  Challenges social digital ethnography in library and Solutions

 

Most of the library professionals are not aware of using the social media in libraries. Moreover most of them lack the confidence in handling ICT tools. Most of the library/ organisation is facing the matter of poor net property that is extremely discouraging the usage of net for library functions.

 

Many of the organisations like hospitals, research institute, government organisation as like DRDO, ISRO, Parliament etc. Don’t have polices in using the social media. Such sites are usually blocked by most of the organisations as large bandwidth programs are not allowed. Moreover there always a fear to the security issues like confidentiality of the organisational information and data. Thus, while making the customisable services the library ought to take into account user privacy. The library ought to stay as cautious with shielding client privacy with technology primarily based services by not permitting them unidentified comments and tagging within the catalogue. The administrators of the pages and homes on the social media ought to maintain the standards of updating information on it. The information on the social media should be audience oriented and planned professionally. The information updated should always be accurate and value added to the library services (Amanda Rowers). In general there is need to build a team with a common purpose by establishing a committee. The advantage of social media management tools such as Hoostsuite (https://hootsuite.com/features/social-networks), Sproutsocial (http://sproutsocial.com/), Tweetdeck (http://tweetdeck.com/), Social flow (http://www.socialflow.com/ ) and many more can be used.

 

This open access platform provides a serious issue of copyrights. Through social media there would be more freely accessible information and the issue of copyright management would be challenged. The special libraries usually hosted the copyrighted documents from the creators. In order to make such material available on the internet are covered under the specific licensing terms. The Using

Creative commons to the metadata can improve the interoperability with the other libraries. “Creative commons allow the creator of a work to act as publisher, consumer and curators of their own creations. In a sense the Creative Commons movement adheres to core library values of access and sharing.” (Charbonneau, Olivier, 2010). Recently Glaxo Smith Kline has surrendered all copyrights in, malarial dataset under CC0 public domain dedication. With such imitative the other scientists are able to review the information and analyse it faster and contribute to the future research in non organisational research.

 

6.  Summary

 

The library profession has had a technological trend. The environment for information has been transferred to the technology. The users are utilising the varied Internet sources e.g. Google, AltaVista etc. for searching required information the rise of web2. 0 further a lot of choices for the users as this has brought numerous tools like blogs, social networking sites, wikis etc. These demands/ suggestions can be used for the collection development. Blogging provides a marketing platform for library services and a discussion forum. Through the instant messaging the librarian can provide synchronised communication to resolve the quires of the exploiters. Library of Congress through Internet primarily based services are built the library access to latest authoritative tools associated with quicker technical process (classification and cataloguing) of the documents. Web Dewey 2.0 is an online version of the Dewey Decimal Classification system. The library will have unlimited access to an increased version of the DDC 23 database by using a standard Web browser. As Web Dewey provides a subscription based service; the library automatically receives updates to the DDC system. The services of Web Dewey2.0 can be shared through Facebook and Twitter. By using Web Dewey repetitive tasks can be avoided and so reduces time-consuming tasks with automated features and faster keyboard navigation. RDA designed on the premise of AACR2. It provides a comprehensive set of guidelines and instructions on resource description and access covering all types of content and media. An integrated, browser-based, online product permits user to interact with an assortment of cataloguing documents and resources together with RDA. Library Thing is an online service to catalogue books which allows adding tag-based browsing, book recommendations, reviews, virtual shelf browsers its facilities to the library OPAC easily. One can access the catalogue from anywhere even on the cellular phone. Infotrieve provides cloud-based document delivery service; (http://www.infotrieve.com/share-and-collaborate). The groups can be created in order to market the library services and also to obtain the public messages, remarks, queries and discussions. Through social media there would be more freely accessible information and the issue of copyright management would be challenged. In today’s information environment rapidity of digital change and ethnography of digital world users, there is a need to develop services that are flexible and progressive. Web2.0 would mark a noticeable change in the future on the basis how the network is used. Thus, library services need to adapt these services in order to keep up with users’ need and expectations.

 

Reference:

 

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