Online social networks
Through American Libraries Direct this morning came a link to an entry in the "Information Wants to be Free" blog. The entry is entitled "Libraries in Social Networking Software" and it discusses the recent issues with MySpace and Facebook. While several articulate points and mindful pros and cons are covered, two concepts stood out for me.
The author asks the question - "Are Facebook and MySpace bad?" The answer is that problems that are arising with social networking opportunities are problems that have been around in other online venues. She goes on to share ideas for educating parents about online social networking and being involved with their children in this arena.
The other point that resonated was about libraries being involved in social networking software – having a site. While she was talking about academic libraries, her comments hold true for all types of libraries –
"Perhaps in one community the library would be a welcome and useful addition to their patrons' online social network, where in another the patrons would think the library was invading their privacy. I think before we do anything, we should really get to know our patrons and what their attitudes are with regards to social networking software and privacy. We can't pretend that what works at one library will work at all of them."
The whole article is excellent with a nice list of resource links at the end.
- Posted by: Erin McCusker
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RE: Online social networks
Thanks for posting this. I think all libraries wrestle with the implementation and effectiveness of new services, particularly those in the Social Software category. But hasn’t this been the case with anything “cool” that targets where the users are?
The effectiveness of MySpace and Facebook to engage users (or the under-25 crowd) has to do with expanding an already rich social circle beyond the physical boundaries of public hangouts and face to face encounters, and the ease in which they achieve it. I have yet to see a library, public or academic, achieve that. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
Meredith posits that library profiles in MySpace and Facebook without zest are just lame. And why bother if we’re not getting feedback anyways? If we have difficulty affecting library usage in this bandwagon, it means we’re not zesty enough for the ‘in’ online crowd. However, I’ve seen profiles in both social networks, and my eyes are still watering from the audacious use of color, sounds, and graphics. That’s not zesty. It’s the visual equivalent of a digital poke in the eye. But if it’s where the users are…