Big Tech for Every Library

There have always been “have” and “have-not” libraries. The gap between the two has widened into a chasm as technology influences every aspect of our profession. The more you look around at library web sites, the more you see a distinction between the “really truly haves” and the “most certainly have nots.” The stereotypical “haves” (think large academic libraries with limitless funding) are identifiable by their carefully customized ILS, teams of talented programmers, extensive e-resources funding, and beautiful full-featured web sites.

The “have nots” (think poorly funded public and school libraries) are often in the most economically depressed areas, need library services the most, and scarcely have enough staff and funding to provide bare-bones library services à la 1980; the catalog is whatever the vendor provided out of the box; and the web site, when there is one, has only contact information and a few web links. As the Library 2.0 wave sweeps the world with new and innovative web services for library users, many librarians worry that it is out of reach owing to staff and budgetary limitations.

That's where EngagedPatrons.org (EP) comes in. The brainchild of librarian Glenn Peterson (see sidebar, p. 15), EP provides interactive and engaging web site services for U.S. and Canadian public libraries that could use a little help in the technology department. Oh, yes, and it's free to qualifying libraries. Do I have your attention now?

Big library web services for all

EP handles all of the programming and coding, fitting the new services seamlessly into the library's web site. All you do is add content through a simple web interface, and your small-library patrons can start enjoying big-library technologies. What's not to love?

Currently, EP offers five types of services for libraries:

Event Calendars: a swanky-looking searchable calendar of library events with optional online registration, emailable listings, event RSS feeds, autodeletion when the event is over, and stable URLs for each event.

Blogs: an easily updatable and searchable web page of what's new at your library, complete with ready-made RSS feed, optional patron comments, autoarchiving, blog spam protection, and the ability for multiple staff members to post.

Contact Forms: a completely customizable web form to collect feedback from users.

RSS Feeds: customized RSS feeds for frequently updated parts of your web site.

Custom Databases: web-accessible databases (for staff or patrons) built from your library's unique card files or other content.

Remember—all of this is automated. Just select the type of service you're interested in, plug in some information, choose your preferences, and within minutes you'll have a new web service for your library. To add content to any of these services, simply log in to your EP account and fill out a simple web form. No one at the library needs to be a single bit techie to start enjoying these fabulous services.

My favorite is the events calendar. Not only does it have a clean and readable interface with variable text size, but you can search by audience, location, or keyword. Users can set up an RSS feed to be notified of any new event at a particular branch, any new book club event, any new story time—the possibilities are limitless. As someone who has seen enough poorly constructed library calendars to make her head spin, this beautiful piece of work makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and eager to set something like this up for my own patrons.

Back to that free part. For U.S. public libraries with less than $1 million in total income, EP's services are free, no strings attached. Larger libraries can get the contact forms and RSS feeds for free and the events calendars and blogs for very small annual fees (calendar: $195/yr.; blog: $95/yr.) with no additional setup fees. Most companies would charge more than this simply to host the site, but EP will design, create, host, and support it.

Plug and play into your own site

Now for a bit of the technical specifics for those of you with enough techie knowledge to be dangerous. All services are hosted on EP's servers. You don't have to upload, download, install, or plug in a thing. All EP services are designed to be displayed within the look and feel of the library's existing web site. To a library's users, it appears that they've never left the library's site. EP provides full technical support and usage statistics for each service. Libraries can create a DNS (domain name system) entry to point at EP's server (e.g., events.yourlibrary.org) or, if you prefer, EP can set up a URL on its end (e.g., yourlibrary.engagedpatrons.org). It's up to you. Libraries with favicons (those little site-specific icons that appear in the address bar or favorites list) can use them in conjunction with EP services as well. Since all the services can appear within the domain name, framework, or banners of your library's web site, this should allay fears of branding problems, style sheet violation, or IT rule-breaking. These services are sleek, highly usable, and have enough bells and whistles to make a techster swoon.

The road so far

Libraries are flocking to EP. The organization was contacted by approximately 50 libraries since April 2006, and about two dozen libraries are already members, with three or four new facilities signing on each day. Most of the libraries signed up qualify for free services, but several larger institutions have also contacted EP.

Peterson isn't worried about an overwhelming influx of library patronage, however. Because the services are created and maintained using automated scripts, most of his time is spent improving existing services, answering questions, resolving technical problems, and working on new ideas for the site. Peterson encourages library staff to explore the web site and think creatively about how they might help provide better user service and increase users' sense of belonging to an active community at the library.

Librarians like to share. We collaborate well, freely offer our services and experience to others, and enjoy doing it. All that's left is for you and your library to take advantage of Peterson's hard work and start providing engaging web services for your patrons.