Method 8 Social Networks

I'm not antisocial I just hate people. That's one of my favorite lines from a television series. Social networking allows libraries to reenforce the fact that libraries aren't about books but about people.


I think that the world of social network has a great deal of potential as both a marketing tool and also a community builder, but only if it is offered in a nonthreatening and easily accessible way. Just like breaking into a new school, patrons need to see what groups are available and then understand how to join and participate. They need to understand what personal information is shared and how to limit contact with other members if they so choose. There also needs to be a great deal of care taken for the protection of patron's privacy. Also, if there are going to be social groups on a library's site respect and care must be given to protect juvenile patrons. Questions as to how staff will oversee these groups and maintain participation standards need to be defined prior to launching such groups.


I've set up a facebook and myspace account before, but found that for me it felt as though I were the only 40 year old at a high school dance. I think that many patrons would want to be friends of the library's pages without having to deal with the hassel of setting up their own account or page.


I enjoyed viewing the library pages on both myspace and facebook and I found the information, especially Austin Public's three librarian musical number, to be helpful and entertaining. This medium is dynamic and therefore caters to the ever shortening attention span of our society.

I think the main issue with social networks is that not everyone wants to be on such a network. Once a person joins Myspace or Facebook then anyone looking for them from their past or present can search for them and reconnect. This isn't always a good thing. Just knowing that this could occur will prevent some patrons from participating. The arguement can be made that this person doesn't have to accept the person as a "friend" but most people would rather avoid the situation all together.

Social networking is valuable, but naturally won't appeal to all patrons. It will though work towards updating the image of libraries from a dusty dinosaurs to a well managed convenient stores on the information highway, a one stop shop where patrons can fill up their cars, hit the facilities, grab some jerky, look over a map,then head back out on the road in search of their final destination.