Social Software in Libraries

Hmmm...for this post, assessing the final "big" questions:

Does social software have a place in library service provision?
What social software applications can be harnessed by information organizations?

SS absolutely has a place within library service provision. Each SS application offers another way to get information to patrons - this is, after all, what the library is all about, non? I would argue that the questioning of SS as a valid method of service provision might be more about a resistance to change than about its inappropriateness as within the realm of library service provision. The questioning of the value of online gaming or online social networks seems to echo, to a certain degree, the value questions surrounding other new formats or methods (like the arguments against Graphic Novels as 'quality' reading).

I would not even begin to suggest that the every SS application has a place in every library, nor that the SS applications are without flaws. I do think that they need to be added to every librarian's arsenal of potential tools for information provision, so that they can be considered along with more traditional methods. In fact, I don't understand what the fuss is about. If it you think it might be effective in your library, try it - especially the free applications.

I think that all social software has the potential to be harnessed by information organizations. Certainly, different applications work better within different situations, it will be the job of the librarian to assess their own user groups.

Academic libraries seem like an ideal place to be leaders for much of this as their user group are often very computer-literate and exist within a structured community that may be better able to provide training and instruction on these resources. Public libraries serving rural populations, institutions offering distance education, or groups attempting to work together from different locations, while I think they might come up against some specific challenges (i.e. no high speed access in rural locations, remote instruction on the systems that are needed for the instruction), seem ideally suited to reap the benefits of SS.

I think that the "low-hanging fruit" of the SS applications are blogs, RSS, and wikis because:

• there are so many free options
• they are relatively easy to create, use, and participate in
• their purpose and uses seem more obviously "informational" and so seem less foreign to traditional library service provision than virtual worlds and online social networks perhaps do.

Libraries OSN - Case Studies

I liked this one: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's MySpace...and this one: Glendale Public Library's MySpace!

Glendale has that uber-busy, Las Vegas-esque MySpace quality that I find overwhelming, but seems to be norm in MySpace world. However, both do well to provide useful info in the standard, fun, chatty format...Glendale has tons of friends, and Carnegie (while I couldn't find the friend count) quite a few comments. It seems like both have quite a bit of traffic...traffic from actual patrons? I thought so. I think they are get ways to market library services...especially considering the cost is free!

I also really liked the UWO one. It is a great example of how useful it is to share information across of group of people with common interests...this, to me, represents the best of OSN. You can glean information from people in similar situations despite not personally knowing anyone in that environment. I've seen students that are coming to FIMS this fall asking questions about the program and housing on the UWO-FIMS Facebook group. What a great way to get information!!!

Even if libraries find that actually being on networks and attempting to encourage patrons to interact with the libray via networks doesn't work for their user populations, perhaps they can best serve their patrons by helping them search for useful networks and provide links to them...I think this would be of value! Sort of a Reader's Advisory to blogs, groups, and networks:

PATRON: Like, I'm going to Western? In the fall? And I need to find a place to live? Do you have like a map or something?

SAVVY LIBRARIAN: Why yes, of course I have maps and some classified ads, but you could also check out this online group about housing around Western. It will give you the inside scoop about where is good to live...

Hmmm....

Libraries & online social networks: Patrons are there 24/7

As with all of the other social software technology that we have examined, it seems important that libraries are not simply carried on to social networking sites because it's 'cool'. Farkas does well to point out the important difference between "being where our patrons are" and “being USEFUL to our patrons where they are.” If libraries aren't actively participating on and using the tool, then there is no point in being on it at all. I think it would ring false with actual users that are active on the tool: like that parent in high school that used to dress in teen clothes and try to use the "in" slang...

I see a true benefit to libraries actively using the space, and providing helpful links to their services. It is a great communication medium and there are certainly patrons that spend A LOT of time on these networks. I admit (with only the tiniest cringe) that I probably check my Facebook now as often as email. I don't think that I am alone in this trend. We jokingly call it "Crackbook", but it is absolutely addictive to have all of your friends' info at your fingertips...why not the library's?

If nothing else, as Lackie points out, it is valuable to see if there are any groups that have sprung up around your library: places to sleep, librarians that are mean, how to get around the library eating rule, etc. Who knows what is happening in your library and what you could learn about new services you could be offering or rules you maybe should be setting? Ignoring this altoghether as a communications medium seems foolish... I have one friend who signed up for Facebook after friends teased her for trying to set up a get-together over email, telling her that email was so old school! Perhaps we need a check-box on our patron profile that gives their preference for communication: phone, email, or Facebook?

Have you seen the Kings of MySpace video on YouTube? They talk about meeting a girl and how they don't bother with phone numbers any more: "Just get the 3 Dubs" (aka their www MySpace address). It's pretty funny and definitely gives some insight into MySpace culture and about how identities are constructed online...it was in my head for a week after I first heard it but a warning: content may be offensive to some! Look at how many hits this video has (1,875,124 views...and yes there is actually a MySpace profile for DaKingsofMySpace). Wow! As Abram asks, how can we learn from this type of popularity and membership and apply it to library marketing?

I also really liked Schmidt's idea about doing "Making your MySpace Awesome" workshops in the library. Why not show off our info/techie skills to teens and try to connect on that level? It may reinforce our image as a knowledgeable resource because we can show that we aren't just vaguely aware of the existence of MySpace, but actually know what we are talking about.
Aye, there's the rub: we need to know what we are talking about! I think this is an important enough reason to get on these social networking sites, even if we don't actually use them to market the library: we need to know about them because many of our patrons live there! If there is also an opportunity to provide some information about safe usage...all the better.

I do think, regardless of a librarian's decision to get involved in these online networks in a professional capacity, that it is very necessary to be knowledgeable about this new environment!

It won't go away if we ignore it.

Libraries: Tagging and bookmarking and folksonomies, oh my!

I think that there is a real potential for libraries to take advantage of these tools. It provides the perfect way to provide access to information that is targeted. It seems like an ideal way to help patrons navigate the internet and make them aware of links that they might find relevant.

The four public libraries seem to be using delicious well to highlight items of interest to their patrons, however some do not seem to be tagging very effectively as there are many many tags that are difficult to navigate. I think that they would benefit from creating some larger, more general tag names to include with their more specific tags so that they could create some larger, more easy to spot, category labels within the cloud. As they currently stand, the tag clouds are huge, and have very little variation - it is a large list of every single bit of content, rather than a guide to general content. I realize that I am trying to put order to something that is not necessarily supposed to be ordered...but I do think it would be helpful. I don't know what can be done, but the size of the cloud on Lansing Public Library's is crazy!!!! The Thomas Ford PL seems to have the same problem. Who would be willing to navigate that? Am I being anal and missing the whole point?!? Hmmmm.....

The one for Seldovia PL is much better as every entry seems to be tagged with one of their "main categories" as well as the more specific tags. La Grange seems to be quite small so the tagging is difficult to judge just yet.

One problem is definitely ensuring that patrons understand what it is and how to use it. The Maui Community College Library does this very well by providing del.icio.us feeds on their About Us page. They highlight that it is Our Interests and provide a direct link to the articles. The recent tags are totally accessible to someone who knows nothing about del.icio.us, and those interested in searching for more can go to their del.icio.us site to search further. They seem to have set up main categories of internet, web, libraries, politics, web 2.0 that serve as main categories for them.

Penn Tags is great! I like that they provide the "about" link to describe the site. It looks very professional and I think that having the tag cloud at the center top makes it more visible and easy to use. This is a good resource and, because it is directed to a specific university community, it is likely that significant tags categories will quickly be established. I also think that university students are a patron community that may be more likely to take advantage of something like this.