"A centre of excellence in digital information management, providing advice and services to the library, information and cultural heritage communities."

UKOLN is based at the University of Bath.

Background

Over the past two years UKOLN has delivered a series of workshops for the cultural heritage sector which have provided an introduction to the Social Web, explored barriers to effective use of the Social Web in a cultural heritage context and described best practices for exploiting the Social Web to maximise its potential.

UKOLN will be continuing to provide these workshops across the sector. The workshops can be tailored to suit particular needs and available facilities. A summary of the workshop requirements is given below. If you would be interested in hosting a workshop please contact Brian Kelly (email. b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk or phone 01225 383943) or Marieke Guy (email m.guy@ukoln.ac.uk).

Information Regarding Potential Venues

UKOLN will be responsible for organising the content for the workshops and for identifying possible venues.

The workshops will be used to support MLA's strategic objectives. Priority will be given to organisations which can provide venues suitable for participation from across the museums, libraries and archives communities. In addition the workshops will particularly welcome attendees who are involved in MLA initiatives such as Stories Of the World.

Draft Programme: Exploiting the Potential of the Social Web

Title

Exploiting The Potential of the Social Web

Length of Session

The workshop can be run over a day (~10.00-16.00).

Numbers of Participants

The minimum number for the workshop is 12 participants and the maximum is 24.

Abstract

Web 2.0 and the Social Web are terms which are now being used widely. But what do these terms mean? And what, if anything, can Web 2.0 and the Social Web offer to museums, libraries and archives - especially small organisations with limited budgets and technical expertise?

This workshop will attempt to answer these questions. As well as demystifying the terms and the technologies, the workshop will also address the challenges which institutions may face in seeking to make use of Web 2.0 to support the needs of their users.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop participants will:

• Have gained an understanding of what is meant by the terms 'Web 2.0' and the 'Social Web'.
• Have seen examples of Web 2.0 technologies including blogs, wikis, microblogs and RSS.
• Have seen examples of the non-technical aspects of Web 2.0 including the importance of openness and user generated content.
• Have seen examples of how Web 2.0 is being used in the cultural heritage sector.
• Have explored barriers to the effective use of Web 2.0.
• Have discussed ways of addressing such barriers.
• Have had the opportunity to develop links and share resources with other participants at the workshop.

Venue Requirements

A networked PC and data projector will be needed for the workshop facilitator. In addition to the plenary talks the workshop will include a number of breakout sessions which will provide an opportunity for participants to discussion topics of interest. If networked PCs are available the workshop can also include a hands-on session.

Additional Speakers

Although the main content and workshop facilitation will be carried out by the UKOLN facilitator there is scope for addition talks in the workshop. This might include case studies of use of the Social Web in the region.

Accompanying Handouts

Participants will be provided with a number of handouts including relevant briefing papers.

Previous Workshops

Note that this workshop has been delivered for MLA Yorkshire, MLA East of England, MLA London, Renaissance East Midlands and Renaissance West Midlands.

Workshop Publicity

We will seek to provide publicity materials for the workshops 6 weeks in advance of the workshops for use by MLA.

Workshop Facilitators

UKOLN will provide a workshop facilitator who will introduce the workshop, give a number of talks and support the hands-on sessions.

If more than about 20 participants we will seek to provide an additional facilitator.

Workshop Evaluation

An evaluation form will be provdied for the workshop.

Timetable

An example of a possible timetable for the workshop is given below. Note that this format, which has been used for several of the workshops, provides three parallel sessions. Participants will take part in each of the three sessions: a hands-on session; a group discussion on the opportunities provided by the Social Web and a group discussion on the barriers to effective use of the Social Web.

Also note that this timetable is based on the availability of PCs for the hands-on session. If no PCs are available a modified version of the programme will be used.

Time	Session	Comments
10.00-10.30	Registration
10.30-10.50	Introduction	Scene-setting and session aims
10.50-11.50	An Introduction to Web 2.0 and the Social Web	Main talk
11.50-12.20	Case Study 1	Possible case study
12.20-12.50	Case Study 2	Possible case study
12.50-13.45	Lunch
13.45-14.15	Parallel Session 1: Hands on Session: Making use of Web 2.0 and Social Web services	Hands on Session
13.45-14.15	Parallel Session 1: Group Discussion 1: Exploring Options	Discussion group on the potential benefits of Web 2.0 and the Social Web
13.45-14.15	Parallel Session 1: Group Discussion 2: Addressing Barriers	Discussion group on the barriers to the deployment and effective use of Web 2.0 and the Social Web
14.15-14.45	Parallel Session 2: Hands on Session: Making use of Web 2.0 and Social Web services	Hands on Session
14.15-14.45	Parallel Session 2: Group Discussion 1: Exploring Options	Discussion group on the potential benefits of Web 2.0 and the Social Web
14.15-14.45	Parallel Session 2: Group Discussion 2: Addressing Barriers	Discussion group on the barriers to the deployment and effective use of Web 2.0 and the Social Web
14.45-15.15	Parallel Session 3: Hands on Session: Making use of Web 2.0 and Social Web services	Hands on Session
14.45-15.15	Parallel Session 3: Group Discussion 1: Exploring Options	Discussion group on the potential benefits of Web 2.0 and the Social Web
14.45-15.15	Parallel Session 3: Group Discussion 2: Addressing Barriers	Discussion group on the barriers to the deployment and effective use of Web 2.0 and the Social Web
15.15-15.30	TEA
15.30-15.45	Report Back
15.45-15.50	Conclusions
15.50	Workshop finishes

Workshops Organised

1. Preston (the Gujarat Centre) - 13th November 2009
2. Devizes, Wiltshire (Wiltshire Heritage Museum) - 16th November 2009
3. London (Clore Learning Centre, Museum of London) - 3rd December 2009
4. Leeds (Leeds Discovery Centre) - 9th December 2009
5. Leicester (School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester) - 18th December 2009
6. Dulwich (Dulwich Picture Gallery) - Friday 29th January 2010
7. Newcastle (Discovery Museum) - Monday 8th February 2010
8. Chelmsford, Essex (Goldlay Gardens) - Wednesday 17th February 2010
9. Birmingham (Central Library) - Monday 22nd February 2010
10. Sheffield (Millennium Gallery) - Monday 1st March 2010
11. Bath (Kingston Room) - Monday 8th March 2010
12. Nottingham (E-Learning Centre) - Wednesday 17th March 2010
13. Cambridge (Central Library) - Monday 22nd March 2010