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Gali Halevi talks about Elsevier’s new online training initiative and 2.0

How have your LIS studies impacted your work at Elsevier?

Gali Halevi: When I started working at Elsevier, I was a second-year PhD student and found my studies reconnected me to the information science research front. This has significantly impacted the importance I put on the latest information collection and dissemination technologies and their uses in academic, government and business libraries. My studies have also increased my awareness of the changing role of information professionals and challenges faced by librarians today. Newly developed methods for delivering information are altering the library’s role and the functions assumed by librarians and information specialists.

Library 2.0 is a part of a whole new approach to information organization and dissemination.

What do you think will be Library 2.0’s greatest impact?

Halevi: Library 2.0 is a part of a whole new approach to information organization and dissemination. Tagging, blogs, wikis and RSS feeds (to name but a few) are changing the traditional library functions of indexing, cataloging and information dissemination. The greatest impact of these tools is visible in the areas of information access and delivery. From “push” information, we are moving towards “pull” information and beyond. Libraries today utilize wikis and RSS feeds to deliver library news and catalog updates; they also solicit patrons’ feedback and participation in the form of blog comments and the ability to alter existing information. The nature of library-related functions is therefore becoming collaborative and flexible as users become active participants.

What is Elsevier’s 2.0 training initiative I’ve been hearing about?

Halevi: The TrainingDesk program centers on a website that’s going live this October — at www.trainingdesk.elsevier.com. This site, primarily aimed at librarians and researchers, is freely available to all. It gathers together diverse training resources, ranging from written materials, to recorded simulations, to traditional online trainings, to 2.0 tools including a blog and wiki to encourage knowledge sharing. Most importantly, the site offers a collaborative and interactive learning environment.

Can you give more details about what’s available on the site?

Halevi: Users new to Elsevier products including EMBASE.com, Engineering Village, ScienceDirect and Scopus can find introductory trainings, tutorials and reference guides on how to use the products, while also being able to participate and learn from others through the practice wiki. Experienced users can find topical trainings and automated simulations to assist in utilizing advanced features of our products.

Wikis are the ultimate collaborative information tool.

What kinds of live, expert-led trainings can librarians register for?

Halevi: Via the site we’ll be offering topic-focused trainings such as “Creating enhanced current awareness services using RSS feeds” and “Knowledge organization, discovery and sharing using tags.” Through the topic-focused trainings, participants can learn how best to accomplish their goals by using multiple tools and products. Topic-focused trainings allow users to focus on what they’re trying to achieve, as opposed to product-focused trainings in which participants simply gain experience with using specific products.

What 2.0 tools will make this learning experience particularly efficient and effective?

Halevi: We’re using collaborative technologies and the Internet as a communication tool to build a dynamic, multifaceted training service. Training materials such as presentations, white papers, short reference guides, automated simulations and online seminars are just one aspect of eLearning. On top of providing traditional eLearning resources such as those, we believe it’s vital to deliver training while encouraging user participation. By incorporating collaborative tools, such as wikis and blogs we hope to create an environment in which users learn from one another and we as information vendors learn from our users.

What are the greatest advantages of eLearning?

Halevi: Independence from geographical boundaries places accessibility at the heart of eLearning. The key to successful eLearning is careful tailoring of materials and delivery methods — allowing learners to progress at their own pace. It opens up a multidimensional knowledge flow in which both trainers and trainees learn from one another, creating a knowledge base rather than static training channels.

What is your favorite 2.0 tool and why?

Halevi: Personally, I love the concept and utilization of wikis. Wikis are the ultimate collaborative information tool. Their simplicity, flexibility and inexpensiveness make them the best instrument for compiling people’s know-how around the clock. Wikis enable minds to come together, collaborate and share what they know and what they have found. Having professionals and novices problem-solve together benefits all. Wikis enable that experience.

What was the impetus for the TrainingDesk?

Halevi: The main drive was twofold: first, the ability to offer online training tools that go hand-in-hand with Elsevier’s online product development; and second, the ability to reach more customers with easily accessible eLearning resources. Recent developments in Scopus, ScienceDirect, EMBASE.com, Engineering Village and other Elsevier products have incorporated Web 2.0 tools such as RSS and tagging. Through the Elsevier TrainingDesk, librarians and researchers can learn about our latest product developments including incorporation of 2.0 technologies and they can access materials independently or participate in a community of learners. It’s all about making the most of exciting new developments.

Interview by Sarah de Crescenzo, Library Connect Marketing Intern, Elsevier, San Diego, CA, USA

Enhancing library services: How to create a blog, wiki or RSS feed
By Gali Halevi, Online Training Manager, Elsevier, New York, NY, USA

Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 are widely discussed terms, talked about and written about all over the world today. Blogs, wikis and RSS feeds can be easily utilized to deliver library services that are customer-centric and participatory.

Would you like to start your own blog, wiki or RSS feed? Just follow the simple instructions below and alter your patrons’ library experience.

Create a blog

In a blog you can instantly publish news, articles or any item of interest and receive feedback from your readers. You can use a library blog to discuss the latest innovations in your field, exchange comments about events or share project updates.

There are many freely available blogging platforms today, including Blogger (www.blogspot.com). To create your own blog, visit the Blogger website and follow the simple steps listed on the main page.

Take a look at our TrainingDesk blog at http://elseviertrainingdesk.blogspot.com.

Create a wiki

A wiki is a collaborative Web page that enables users to edit its content. A wiki can be used for collaborative projects such as research or teaching. Wiki platforms provide interfaces that make editing easy and support file uploading and sharing. You can use a wiki to deliver library education classes or create communities of interest.

Take a look at our TrainingDesk practice wiki at http://elseviertrainingdesk.pbwiki.com.

There are many freely available wiki platforms today, including PBwiki (www.pbwiki.com). To create your own wiki, visit the PBwiki website and follow the simple steps listed on the website’s main page. Depending on the purpose of your wiki, you can make it fully editable or provide viewing privileges only.

Create RSS feeds

RSS feeds are a superb replacement for email alerts. You can offer patrons library RSS feeds that gather alerts from databases and free websites to one platform that is accessible and available anytime, anywhere. RSS aggregators also support sharing and collaboration. You can share your feeds with your community and allow others to add their feeds. In this manner you’re creating a dynamic and participatory knowledge base rather than a “push” information service.

There are many freely available RSS platforms today, including Pageflakes (www.pageflakes.com). To create your own feeds, visit the Pageflakes website and gather your alerts using RSS feeds or preprogrammed “flakes.” Pageflakes requires a simple sign-up and sign-in. To take a look at my Pageflakes pages, go to http://pageflakes.com/trainingdesk.