Building Community @ National Geographic

Karen HuffmanLibraries & Information Services

National Geographic Society

Computers in LibrariesApril 16, 2006

Full Presentation

Available for download:

URL: www.ngslis.org/cil/Username: librariesPassword: cil2007

National Geographic Society

• Vision− Inspiring people to care about the planet.

• Mission− Increase and diffuse geographic knowledge in its

broadest sense−Conduct and assist investigation, research and

exploration in any branch of science.−Encourage the experience and knowledge of

other cultures and lands.

Agenda

• Why build communities?

• Physical: Building relationships

• Virtual: Building applications

• Practical examples

• What’s next

• Lessons learned

Why build communities?

• Belief that the collective sum is greater than the individual parts

• Create knowledge networks that share, collect and connect people and data

• Streamline workflow and communication

• Empower individuals to become change agents

• Work in the “white spaces” of the organizational chart

Knowledge & Strategic Solutions

Archives & Special

CollectionsRecords &

Rights Management

Business & EditorialServices

Technical Services & Systems

Indexing Services

NG Libraries & Information

Services

“Circles of Influence”

ThinkTank

TrendsAnalysisGroup

Geo-Referencing

LearningSystems

IntranetPortal

DealsCouncil

SpeakersBureau

EmergencyPreparedness

StyleCommitteeeMagazines

Archives

GoingGreen

WomenExplorersInitiative

Web 2.0

SLA ALA

AIIMSAA

OHMAR

PTPL

Centers forExcellence

Local Universities

Volunteers & Mentors

Conferences & Seminars

Luboto Project

IPY

FutureEvents

Leadership

Communities

Enterprise Solutions

Corporate Intranet: NG Insider

Divisions & Teams

Corporate Learning

Research Database

Electronic Records Management

Hybrid Solutions

Intranet Team Site + Wiki

Cross-Team Wiki + Mind Mapping

New Intranet Team Site

Intranet Division Site + Blog

Cross-Divisional Wiki: Kids 2.0

Wikis & Mashups

Women Explorers Wiki

Examples: Women Explorers

Cross-Team Wiki + Mashups

Impact: 8,000+ Research Grants

Where are we headed…

Staff Brainstorming Session

• MySpace like areas for networking

• Personal home pages

• Discussion forums

• Stories and perspectives from international partners and affiliates

• Google-like search

Expand/Enrich Our Digital Collections

Wiki Watch

Custom Home Pages

Exploring Implications for Us

Lessons Learned

• Virtual communities are tied to physical communities

• Collaboration is key

• Hybrid approach: One size does not fit all

• New ideas/tools: Learn, apply, model, and teach

• Adopt a decentralized approach

• Communicate: Share your stories

• Be proactive and accountable

Appendix

Enterprise Solutions

• Corporate Intranet (NG Insider) − IBM Lotus Workplace Web Content Management

• Electronic Document Management (eDocs)−DominoDoc

• Omniture (Web metrics)

Web 2.0 Applications/Tools

• Blogs−WordPress.org

• Digital Maps−Google Maps API (external use only)−KML/GeoRSS

• Mind mapping−FreeMind.SourceForge.net−Gliffy.com

−MindJet.com MindManager

RSS

• Bloglines.com

• Feed2JS.org

• FeedDigest.com

• FeedForAll.com

• MagPieRSS.SourceForge.net

• NewsGator.com “On-Demand”

Podcasts• Microphones

−High end: Shure 58−Remote Recording: HHB’s DRM85 “The FlashMic” − “Mike,” a portable digital audio deck: Marantz (Model

PMD671)

• Software−Apple’s GarageBand apple.com/itunes−Audacity audacity.sourceforge.net −Castblaster castblaster.com−ePodcast industrialaudiosoftware.com−Propaganda makepropaganda.com

• RSS/XML Generator−FeedForAll feedforall.com

Wiki Tools

• Application: MediaWiki−Registration required for contribution−Allow uploads of multiple file format

• Extensions (or add-ons)−Access control – Input form−Calendar – RSS feeds

• Customization−Omniture for Web metrics

• Web hoster: LunarPages−< $100/year