From ml2sig

Current revision

[edit] About Flickr

flickr is a photo sharing service. Basic accounts are free and images can be given various levels of privacy. Libraries use flickr for a range of purposes - from internal collections of party pics to event and collection promotion via the library homepage.

Flickr uses tagging to allow users to add keywords to their images and collections. These tags can be very useful for organizing your own collection as well as finding other images. For example, here is a page of library related tags grouped into clusters for easy navigating.

Another useful aspect of flickr is that it allows users to attach a creative commons license to images. Among other things, this means that the creators of some images have given permission to reuse their images. So flickr can be a great source for stock photos etc.

[edit] Using flickr

[edit] The Basics

• Sign in or create a new account - flickr
• Find photos - Find photos by searching (there are different search options under the search button). If you're looking for photos to use, try searching via the creative commons page.
• Upload your photos - via the main You link at the top of the page. Follow the step-by-step instructions. You will be able to upload multiple photos at once, set their privacy level, and tag, title, and describe them.
• Organize your photos - via the Organize link, you can:
  • add or change tags, titles, and descriptions (individually or batch edit)
  • put your photos into sets and collections (if you have the pro account)
  • add photos to a group you've already joined (see below for more about groups)
  • change permissions (who can see images, edit creative commons license)
  • put your photos on the map

• People - You can connect with other users by finding their account page and then adding them as your contact. To add someone as a contact, hover your cursor over the user's icon/avatar and an arrow button will appear to the right. Click this and select the first option "Add USER as a contact?" You then get the option to set their access level. When you add photos to your account, this access level will determine who can see each of your photos.

• Groups - There are groups on just about any topic. The idea is that this allows users with similar interests a place to share photos on that topic. Anyone can create a group. Groups can be open to anyone, by invite only, or by permission. Group pages often have rules about tagging, # of photos allowed, etc. - so make sure you read any rules provided. Groups also often have discussion boards to encourage discussion of related topics.

For example, go here to join the MLibrary2.0 group

• Maps - flickr uses yahoo maps to allow images to be connected to a physical location. To view the map of everyone's images, click Explore and then World Map then search for your location.

To assign your photos to the map, click Organize click the Map tab and search to find your location (zoom in/out and select "hybrid" to pinpoint your location) > drag photos from bottom frame to a location on the map.

[edit] Advanced Flickr

• Change your settings - click You > Your Account. Of special interest might be the privacy and license settings (under Privacy & Permissions). Here is a description of the different Creative Commons Licenses

• Other ways to upload - email, cell phone, or using a desktop application.

• Embed flickr images in other web pages / blogs post - Create a flickr badge or flickr slideshow to embed in a webpage (see bottom of page for examples)

• Get updates - If you use an RSS feed reader, you can be notified anytime someone comments on one of your photos, adds an image to a group, a contact adds photos, photos are added with a certain tag, etc. Look for this icon (or others that say RSS, XML, Feed, etc.) that will sometimes appear on a page or in the URL address bar of some browsers. It indicates that you can get to the feed by clicking on it.

[edit] Examples

[edit] MLibrary related accounts, groups, & sets

• MLibrary's main flickr account This account is available to MLibrary staff who do not have a departmental flickr account, don't want to use their personal accounts, or just want their images to be available via the main flickr account. Contact Liene Karels (lkarels) for more information. Recent or popular projects include: 1 Millionth Digitized Book celebration details & people, Bert's Cafe, and exhibits about Bo Schembechler and UM Graduation.

• Undergraduate Library (UGLi) flickr account fantastic UGL history set and lots of photos from various UGLi sponsored events and remodeling.

• Hatcher Graduate Library flickr account is the home of the Celebrate Banned Books Week set

• MLibrary2.0 Group This group was created to promote the summer 2007 MLibrary2.0 workshop series but has continued to be used to share any and all images from MLibrary.

• Hatcher Graduate Library Group A joinable group for photos related to the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan - the building, events, people, etc.!

• Pre-Shelf Life of Library Materials a photoset on Flickr showing a brief glimpse behind the scenes at Hatcher Graduate Library, University of Michigan.

• UM Dentistry Collection on Flickr This is a collection of sets of images related to different aspects of dentistry and dental history.

• Special Collections 1968 Exhibit

• Details of objects around various UM Libraries

• UM Health Sciences Libraries Outreach

[edit] Other MLibrary related flickr stuff

• userslib.com » Bo Schemblecher Exhibit photos
  Uses flickr to host images that are then embedded into a blog post using slidoo.

• University of Michigan Libraries map
  Uses Google Maps mashed with photos from flickr.

[edit] Examples of how other libraries are using flickr

• PictureAustralia
  Flickr collection of images of Australia to view or contribute to

• Smithsonian Collection
  A collection of 6,288 images from smithsonianimages.si.edu which appear to be overwhelmingly in the public domain

• College of St. Benedict & St. John’s University Libraries: Clemens Reads
  Book displays (mouse over a book and it will give you a description and link to catalog!)

• University of Delaware Library: photos
  Highlights items in special collections

• Brooklyn Museum's flickr
  Flickr used to promote events and news.

• University of Winnipeg - Flickr Library Tour
  Step by step tour through their library. Note: this is no longer available, nice idea though!

• Flickr Commons
  "The key goals of The Commons on Flickr are to firstly show you hidden treasures in the world's public photography archives, and secondly to show how your input and knowledge can help make these collections even richer."

[edit] Library related flickr groups

• Flickr: Librarians' Desks Group
  Photos of Librarians' Desks!

• Flickr: ALA_Annual_2007 group
  

• Flickr: Michigan Libraries Group
  A collection of photos of Michigan libraries. In particular, we're looking to create a geomap of Michigan libraries.

• Flickr: Library Artworks Group
  Images of artworks from libraries

• Flickr: Catalogue Cards & Card Catalogues Memorial Pool
  Images of the quickly disappearing card catalogue

• Flickr: 365 Library Days Project Group
  Challenge to post 365 photos of your library in 365 days

• Flickr: Libraries and Librarians group
  We have members and pictures here from libraries on six continents!

• Flickr: MLibrary2.0 group
  Add your photos of MLibrary2.0 related events and workshops

• Flickr: Librarian Trading Cards
  Just for fun.

[edit] flickr tools and other cool things

• slideoo
  embed images from flickr into a web page or blog post

• flickr slidr
  embed images from flickr into a web page or blog post

• Spell with flickr
  Create an image word using photos from flickr

• Flickr: Explore everyone's geotagged photos on a Map
  View images on a map

• Flickr: Tools to upload and share your photos
  Tools for uploading, emailing, creating badges, etc. (must be logged in)

• Flickr: Creative Commons
  Find photos that you can use for non-commercial purposes

• flickrSLiDR
  Embed Flickr Slideshows within Your Site

• Quick Online Tips
  List of more flickr tools

[edit] Other flickr articles and resources

• 31 Flavors - Things to Do With Flickr in Libraries by Patricia Anderson
  List of possible uses for flickr in a library context. By P. F. Anderson