Exploration (Optional): Social Networking Sites

Will Require: Reading articles, exploring links, optional creation of account
Time: @1 hour

We’ve all heard the phrase “social networking site” but what does it really mean?

Social networking websites and services are creeping into more and more of the web. These sites encourage users to seek out old friends from their past, allows them to find other users with similar tastes and fosters a feeling of community in the virtual world.

Just as other web services are taking cues from social networking sites, many of the social sites incorporate features of other webs services, allowing users to send email to each other, create a personal blog, join a discussion group, import RSS feeds, bookmark and share outside webpages, allow users to upload their own content, and customize the look of their page all the while encouraging them to interact with other users on the site.

Facebook and MySpace are online social network sites that are more about having fun and staying in touch with friends and family. Sites like Linkedin focus on professional development and career advancement. Imbee is a social site created to be kid, parent, and teacher friendly. Because of their popularity, more and more social sites are popping up every day.

Read the article from April 2008 PCWorld The Right Social Network for You in EBSCOhost to learn a bit more on the variety of social sites popping up on the web.

For a chuckle, read Michelle Slatalla’s article from the New York Times ‘omg my mom joined facebook’ (though Slatalla’s daughter might be horrified to know that the average Facebook user is over the age of 25).

How can libraries and librarians use these free sites to promote their services?

Steve Campion of the Pierce County (WA) Library shares his advice on creating a social networking environment in your library using his recent experiences in setting one up in his system.

Here is the Pierce County Library MySpace, which is marketed towards teen users.

The South Carolina State Library created a Facebook page as another way to make their library blog available to patrons.

Maryland AskUsNow, the online chat reference service, has created both a Facebook and MySpace page to advertise its services.

In your blog, take a moment to discuss social networking sites. Here are some questions to help get you started:
Why are sites like this appealing to tween and teens? How about young adults? Adults?
What are some of the pros and cons of a library entering the realm of social networking sites?
How could a library or system use these sites to help their patrons? How about using these sites to communicate with staff?

Don’t forget to read your fellow explorers blog responses to this exploration.