Social Software Tools: Personal Experiences

I found Social Software and Libraries to be a great learning experience. I had never blogged before and was amazed to discover how easy it was to create and maintain a blog. I really enjoyed using blogs as learning tools in this course. At first I was annoyed by having to visit all of the blogs to see if anyone had posted anything new, but then Amanda introduced us to RSS. I was very excited to discover that I only had to visit my reader to determine if anyone had posted anything new. Posting on my own site and commenting on other student’s blogs every week helped me become extremely familiar with the technology. Although I enjoyed using blogs for this class, I do not think that I will continue blogging. I just don’t feel like I have enough to write about. Sadly, my life really isn’t that exciting!

Some of the social software tools that I will continue using are: wikis, RSS and bookmarking/tagging tools. My group had a great experience using a wiki to create our collaborative presentation. I am definitely going to suggest using wiki technology for group assignments during my final term in the fall. I must say that wikis are my favourite social software tool. I also really like RSS and I am going to try and sign up for some library career job site feeds (I graduate in December—whooo hooooo!). I think that bookmarking/tagging tools like del.icio.us are great ways to remember articles and Websites; however, I was a little turned off by how many del.icio.us articles from LIS 757 were sent to my reader. I have to admit that after awhile I stopped checking them. Seeing 100+ articles became very overwhelming. I do not think that it is really necessary for students to tag every single week. Perhaps this can be tweaked the next time Amanda teaches this course.

Evaluating Social Software for Libraries: My Favourite Tools

I definitely believe that social software has a place in library service provision. I think it is wonderful that many libraries are embracing current trends and reaching out to different types of patrons. As Dames notes, “social software tools not only afford libraries the opportunity to extend its reach beyond the library building, but also allows the library to serve its patrons in ways that previously were impossible (Features- Social Software in the Library). One key concept that I learned this term and will never forget is that it makes no sense to implement any kind of technology if it is not going to be useful. Librarians must make sure that they are implementing social software to benefit their patrons and not just because it is the hip thing to do.

My favourite social software technologies for libraries are the tools that that I believe to be the most beneficial to patrons: wikis and online social networks. Prior to taking this course, I did not realize that wikis could be employed in so many unique ways. Implementing a wiki for a group assignment was a foreign concept to me. My Online Social Network group decided to try it out and it worked extremely well for us! I was very impressed how easy the wiki made group collaboration. When libraries use wikis to enhance library instruction their patrons gain valuable insight not just from one person, rather from the whole library community. Miami University Library is making great use of wiki technology through their Information Desk wiki, which they use to “to share and continuously refine information” (Withers 775). Many libraries use wikis as tools for collaboration just between staff members, but Miami University’s Information Desk wiki is also open for students to edit. This demonstrates that Miami University students are an important part of the library community and that the library values their knowledge and insight. I also think that libraries should introduce wikis as virtual study areas for students. In this way, students can brainstorm with one another and librarians can offer study tips.

I was very impressed with UWO Western Community’s LiveJournal. Through this site many students are exchanging useful tips. I think that it would be a great idea for all university libraries to create similar online social networks. These networks do not have to be library related; they could include anything relevant to the Western community. After all, the library is the place where students go for information. I found UWO Western Community’s LiveJournal very difficult to locate and wondered how students even heard out about it. To make it easy for students to find, university libraries could create a network and embed a link through the library home page. I’m not sure if any university libraries are using online social networks in this fashion, but the Southeast MA Regional Library System has created My Own Cafe and it seems very popular with young patrons. Another great way that libraries are using online social networks is by creating profiles in popular sites and embedding links to resources. This makes library services more easily accessibly to patrons.

I think that both wikis and online social networks could easily be implemented in libraries. To employ these technologies libraries simply need a librarian who is familiar with the software or who is willing to learn. Wikis and online social networks are not difficult to use and would not take too much time to become familiar with. Both of these social software tools have free options, so expensive is not a big issue.

Case of Facebook Mistaken Identity

Hello Everyone,

While reading the paper this morning I came across an interesting article that I wanted to share. The article is entitled "Facebook user caught up in 'ghetto dude' backlash" and you can find it on the front page of today's Toronto Star. So, basically this Facebook user is being wrongly identified as the Ontario cabinet staffer who used the term "ghetto dude" in an e-mail and mistakenly sent it to the black job applicant to whom she was referring. The reason behind the confusion is the fact that the Facebook user and the Ontario cabinet staffer have the same name, Aileen Siu. The Facebook user is really getting her reputation dragged through the mud and she has done absolutely nothing wrong! How come people do not check their facts? The article noted that Aileen Siu (Facebook user) received more than 30 nasty e-mails and bloggers were posting her photo and personal profile lifted from Facebook. This is just ridiculous! Many people have the same name. If you do a search for my name there are about 10 pages of people. You do have to be careful what you choose to put online, but I don't see how Aileen Siu, the facebook user, could have avoided this mess, other than if she had never created an account at all. Any thoughts?

Blog Holiday!

Hi Guys,

I am taking my second blog holiday this week. See you all next week!

Case Studies

Libraries on MySpace – MySpace group – I didn’t find this site extremely useful. Some of the links to discussion about online social networks are broken (a pet peeve of mine!) and the other links seem kind of random. I’m not exactly sure why they chose to post just one article. There is a myriad of information available online, but just one lonely article is posted. I did find the powerpoint presentation insightful and I felt that it did a good job of providing an overview of using MySpace and FaceBook for outreach and learning in libraries

My Own Café – I was a little confused by My Café. I spotted the “register now” and “login” links, but I could not see a list of friends. Am I missing something here? I thought that all online social networks listed their members. The only real communication seems to be taking place in the My Café forums, but these all have specific themes. What happens if teens want to talk about different issues?

MySpace & Teens – Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki - The library MySpace profiles that I checked out in the Best Practices Wiki are really great! These libraries are using online social networking to benefit their patrons and not just to look cool! Many of the sites had useful links embedded right into their profile. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how many services were being promoted through MySpace profiles. Most sites include links to their library blog, calendar and chat services, but some include a lot more on their profile. The Hennepin County Library also has links to homework help and advice on college, dating and health. I think that this is such an awesome idea. While looking through these profiles, I only noticed one library that asked teens to add the library as their friend. I think that this message should be on all of the library profiles, right at the top of the page. If teens just look at the library profile and do not add the library as a friend, they may forget all about it. It is important to get onto teen’s friend’s list so that they will be aware of library events and can be sent reminders.

UWO Western Community & Livejournal – It seems that this online social network is very useful to Western students. Students with all sorts of questions, from living accommodations in London to course selection, are communicating. I must say that I am pretty impressed by the exchange of information. Almost all of the posts seem to have comments and everyone seems to be very helpful.

Libraries and Online Social Networks

I think that libraries definitely have a role to play in online social networks, but as Farkas mentions, the reasons behind a library’s use of online social networks must be examined. Some libraries implement social networks just “because they’re ‘cool’ and not to serve a specific purpose” (Farkas). Really, what are they thinking? It makes no sense to implement any kind of technology if it is not going to be useful. These online social networks that “look cool” might initially attract patrons, but when the patron’s realize that the library is not offering anything helpful through their online social network, they will be turned off. I think that employing online social networks because they are the “in” thing makes libraries look very “out”, not to mention just plain silly. Like Steph pointed out in our presentation, these libraries “may seem like try-hards” (Steph) and damage their image.

I am all for libraries implementing online social networks for outreach and to make their services more easily accessible. I believe that Lackie makes a very good point when she notes that “by using online social networks, librarians can increase visibility and update the stereotypical image, but, most importantly, [they] can let students know what the library is really all about” (Lackie). By using online social networks, such as MySpace and Facebook, libraries can reach teens and young adults. I think that it is very important to target this age group, as they may be the most unlikely to visit the library because of their “everything I need I can find online” mentality. Schmidt notes that libraries can use online social networks to “refer back to the teen portions of their website” (Schmidt). Teens may not think about searching for this information on their own, but they may check it out if the information is visible on a social network and if access is simple, i.e. accessed by clicking a link. By embedding links to library catalogues, library chat rooms, library calendars, reference pages and research guides, right into the online social network site, libraries can make it incredibly easy for young people to find resources. Many students are logged into Facebook or MySpace while they are doing their homework, so it makes perfect sense for libraries to create profiles and offer services from these sites.

I enjoyed Harris’ article “MySpace Can Be Our Space” and I think that he raises some very good points. He believes that online social networks should be utilized as teaching tools. His article focuses on online social networks in the classroom, but there is no reason why this cannot cross over into the library. Harris’ article mentions copyright issues involving students adapting protected works, such as music, onto their MySpace accounts. Copyright infringement is a hot topic in the library environment and perhaps librarians could use the MySpace music example to explain copyright laws in a fashion that would appeal to students.

There are so many useful ways that libraries can implement online social networks. It is truly a shame that some libraries are not using the technology to the best of their ability. When libraries use online social networks to reach out to their patrons and garner valuable feedback, everybody wins.

Social Networking In Higher Education

I have to admit that I was a little bothered by Matthew William’s article “MySpace and Facebook: What Higher Ed can Learn from Social Computing.” William’s article blames instructors for treating students as “mute receptacle[s]” and says that it is no wonder they are spending so much time on social networking sites, as these sites allow them to express themselves. William’s article suggests that most classrooms are instructor-centered and that students often do not get a chance to participate. He thinks that students like social networking sites because “users are invited to participate at a personal level.” I do agree that instructors should attempt to get students involved in their education and that social networking sites may help; however, I wouldn’t bank on these educational sites becoming incredibly popular. Students like social networking sites because, well, they are SOCIAL!!! Social time is always more fun than school time. Implementing these sites into higher-education may help get a few more people involved, but it is naïve to think that students will ever want to complete school work, rather than socialize.