The next discussion is from Adrian Arthur and Alex Truby on the experiences of the BL on Facebook. Strategic themes are participation, putting Web 2 on their website, no borders, simple integrated access and providing rich media. Initial discussion on what the BL is currently doing on the web - the phrase 'just do it' is coming up again, as it did in both mine and Dave's presentations. Information on the use of British Library weblogs for example, developing the theme of getting involved and just doing stuff. BL is shifting away from having an hermetically sealed presence to working with Web 2.0 site providers to work together.
The BL sees the use of social networking sites as a way of getting out there, providing information in situations and places where people are. BL also uses Flickr, and are looking at how the two can work together on future exhibitions.
Figures given - in October 2007 18% of page views in the UK were from Facebook, Bebo and MySpace. What this says to the BL is that it's good to be working in those environments because of the traffic. The BL has set up a number of Fb groups, particularly focussed on the exhibitions they are running. Also looking at MySpace and they have just created their first page for the 'Breaking the Rules' exhibition.
Issues around the activity - branding, leadership, moderation, resourcing, privacy, sustainability, archiving content, measuring and success factors. "We need to engage with Web 2.0 and we need to just do it."
The BL entrepreneur and SME network on Fb supports their business and IP centre, set up on 30th May 2007, with over 541 members as of 15/11/07. It includes news, photographs, videos and discussions, with information on and invitations to events. URL is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2373820409 BL staff update news weekly, and they visit other appropriate groups to advertise there as well. They are trying to get people to get involved with discussions, but this has been quite slow so far. Successful use has been in getting people to attend events.
BL hasn't yet developed a link between their catalogues and Fb, but they'd like to explore that. If students are spending all day in Facebook they may as well be able to get access to the catalogue there. BL staff also have their own private Fb group. They have just set up an organisational profile.
I missed this point about British Library moving to Facebook -- an indication of our changing times. Incidentally, the BL is closing down two centres in India. It was depressing, personally, and I blogged about it.
Posted by: Pradeep | December 11, 2007 at 08:24 AM