The adventures of LASSIE: Libraries, distance learners and social software

This paper provides an overview of the University of London’s Libraries and Social Software in Education (LASSIE) Project, led by LSE and the Institute of Education. The project explored whether social software, or Web 2.0 technologies, could enhance the distance learners’ experience of libraries. It included a detailed literature review which defined concepts such as Library 2.0 and provided examples of libraries using tools like blogs, wikis, social networking sites, social bookmarking sites and media sharing sites. LASSIE also undertook five case-studies to explore in more detail: social software and reading lists; social bookmarking and libraries; podcasting and information literacy; blogging; and Facebook and libraries. It concluded that social software might be best utilized to enhance information literacy support for distance learners.