Libraries as social networkers

I realized today that I had gotten a bit behind here.  Just a few thoughts on social networking… I do think that libraries do need to continue to experiment with social networking as I think it is here to stay.  The library where I work has both a facebook and a myspace page.  One of the articles mentioned how  important it is to establish your presence in places where your younger users hang out, so I think libraries that create a presence in these sites are on the right track.  You can add an application on facebook that will allow you to search the catalog from your profile.  You can also become a fan of the library.  Have I done this?  I’m ashamed to say that I have neither added the search box nor have I become a fan of the library.  But then again, I am not the one of the library’s younger users and am already a fan of libraries. 

I have, however, created a profile on my library’s very own social networking page, Bookspace.  While I think libraries should continue to be a presence on social networking sites like facebook and myspace, I also think they need to take a look at Bookspace and consider their own social networking avenues.  As for Bookspace, I can think of some things that may make it even more attractive to users.  One such thing would be to extend the network to include not just books, but other sources of information.  I think it would be great if people could create their own groups, like they can on Facebook, and include links to their favorite websites, videos, etc…  I have this idea of user generated pathfinders of a sort, where people would compile their own list of resources for their subject of interest.  Then other people would have access to these lists and would be able to comment on them.  I think people would have fun sharing the resources they’ve compiled on their subjects of expertise.  I don’t know if this is feasible, but it’s just an idea that I’ve been kicking around in my head.  It would make the whole library social networking more personal and participatory.

Also, I know people really like decorating and personalizing their social networking profiles.  Bookspace only allows a teeny tiny user picture (I know this is probably a bandwith issue, so maybe nothing can be done about this).  I just think that people would be more attracted to Bookspace and similar library social networking if they could make their page more personal. 

As I’ve mentioned, I do really like Bookspace as it is, but I did take a look at the number of profiles that have been created and it really isn’t all that high.  I think libraries need to continue with this sort of thing, but come up with innovative ideas and improvements that will attract more people. 

One of my favorites…

Sesame Street - 12 rocks in the desert

I love playing around on youtube.  My group project is a youtube project.  I have never uploaded a video to youtube as I have never had video equipment.  After seeing the little flip video camera in class, I definintely have to get one.  Anyway, even though I have never uploaded a video.  I have spent countless hours on youtube.  I love how when you find a video, you get the related videos window.  Because of that, you can spend hours moving from video to video.  That is what I did one late evening a few months ago with classic Sesame Street videos.  Suddenly, it was 3 AM and I had only scratched the surface.  One of the videos I was looking for was the above video.  It had a strange effect on me as a child.  I actually used to have dreams about it. 

Simply Del.icio.us

I have had a del.icio.us account for a couple of years now, but I only used it to bookmark my favorites and didn’t explore the social aspect.  I am thinking that this will be a great resource for the group project and much simpler and less clunky than blackboard.  I also think the class tagging assignment will be a great way of sharing information with each other.  This has also led me to think about how glad I am that I am going to library school now rather than 10 years ago.  All of this technology makes everything easier.  Yes, there was e-mail and IMing ten years ago, but it hadn’t really become integrated into a lot of people’s everyday activities.  And now there is so much more–so much more we can do and so much more we can share. 

Oh, and how great was it to play around with IMing in class?  I never thought I’d see the day when I was IMing in class and not doing it on the sly.  I can see myself doing IM reference work.  I think it’s something I would really like to do. 

I’m also looking forward to using a wiki for my group project.  I had looked at wiki software before but never had a reason to use it.  Again, it seems like it will be much better to use than blackboard.  I will gladly say bye bye blackboard and hello del.icio.us and wikis. 

Anne’s Virtual Life

The above picture is my weemee (different from wii mii).  I use her as my avatar for aol instant messenger.  I’m sort of amazed at how much she looks like my 8 year old self, despite the fact that she doesn’t even have a nose. 

It has gotten to the point that, even though I wasn’t a child when I had my first virtual experience,  it is hard to remember a time when I haven’t been virtual.  My family got a computer in 1987.  For the first couple of years, we used it for writing papers and maybe playing a game or two, but in 1989, with my own money, I bought a modem and the Prodigy software.  From then on, I was hooked.  It started off with some music bulletin boards.  I still remember one particular girl on one particular band’s bulletin board, who was like the keeper of the band.  She thought she knew everything and had a deep spiritual connection with the band and, boy, you better not say anything bad about the band, or you would have to face her wrath.  It’s funny that it seems like no matter what virtual community I’ve encountered since then, there is always someone like her. 

Anyway, from Prodigy, I moved onto AOL.  I remember staying up until the wee (unfortunately I didn’t have a weemee in those days)  hours of the night chatting with people (those were the days when random strangers would somehow find you) on instant messenger.  I also played moderated trivia in the chat rooms. That was a lot of fun.   

I sort of flitted around aimlessly after that, landing in this community or that and not really finding a home, but in the late 90’s, I got very active in the Buffy on-line community.  I’m not even going to get into that as I could write a whole book about that experience. 

 Then about 5 years ago, I started blogging.  I have 5 or 6 blogs out there in cyberspace.  One is very active in that I post on it every day.  Others are just floating around sadly inactive. 

I also am very active in an artist’s community.  Just about every weekend I participate in something called the Weekend Drawing Event.  Each week a member posts photos and then we all choose what we want to draw or paint and then post the work and comment on each other’s work.  It is something that I look forward to every week and I really have to say that finding this community has had a significant positive effect on my life. 

Anyway, I know this post was supposed to be about our first virtual experience, but I couldn’t just stop there.  Even though those earliest experiences were the most exciting, it has been the most recent that have had the biggest impact on me. 

My 2.0 Reflections

I have been working in libraries for more than a decade.  I have seen, especially in the last 5 years, the shift in what people want and how they use the library.  When we open the doors in the morning, very few people stop at either the service desk or the reference desk.  Instead they make a beeline for the computers.  I’m hesitant to use the name of my library system as I have heard stories of people getting in trouble for blogging about it and being forced to take their entry down.  However, I will be talking about Bookspace, so that might give you an idea about what library system I’m talking about. 

Our text book talks about the importance of listening to front line staff and customers when re-evaluating services and making changes.  I think this is very important!  In the past year, we have had several pilot projects unveiled.  One of the things we tried at my library was an “ask me” desk at the entrance of the library.  It was right across from the circulation desk which pretty much is already an “ask me” desk.  Now, if customers and front line staff had been asked, they would have known that where we really need extra help is over in the computer sign-up and printing areas.  Instead a desk was added where we had no computer for looking anything up and we just had to send the customer to another desk for help.  Anyway, I’m not trying to turn this into a rant fest (I do think my library does a lot of things right and I like working there), but just want to illustrate the importance of asking the staff who are right there every day on the front lines and know what is going on, rather than someone from on high just making a decision.  If you want to be 2.0, listen to your staff.  It’s supposed to be about collaboration, isn’t it? 

However, I do have to say that I applaud my library’s willingness to make changes.  We do not hesitate to look at trends and try new things.  For instance, we have had pod-casting, social net-working and youtube workshops and gaming days for kids and teens.  We also offer a wide variety of computer classes for adults.  We serve an area where a lot of people don’t have computers at home, so these services are very important.  Also, we have very much incorporated the idea of the library as a community gathering place.  There is no teen community center in the area, so the need for this type of space is there.  I could go on and on, but this is a blog post and I don’t want it to get too long!

I do want to talk briefly about Bookspace as well.  I love Bookspace.  The catalog isn’t always warm and inviting, but I think Bookspace is.  People are used to Amazon, where they can give reviews and read book lists, etc…  People are also used to using social networking sites and Bookspace, in a sense, is our library’s social network.  You can create a profile with your book lists, author alerts and read other people’s comments on the book you may be reading.  I haven’t played around with it as much as I would like to, but here is my profile.  I have done one review, so far, but I can see that it hasn’t caused people to clamor to check the book out.  I guess people aren’t all that interested in rhinos

First weekend of class

 I do have to say that I really enjoyed my first weekend of class.  I love to play around with photos, so of course I was thrilled that we got to do that in class.  Oh, and I’m home now and I’m still playing around with photos.  Anyway, for some reason the Warholizer wouldn’t work for me in class, but I came home and tried it and it worked right away.  I once made an image like this using Photoshop and a picture of Barry Manilow for a friend of mine, but this was a thousand times quicker.  So, here is my mug Warholized…

Trading Card

Just me being silly.  I will make one for myself later.  For now, here is Reading Rhino, the world’s first rhino librarian. 

Another Blog

This is my 5th or 6th blog.  Does one really need so many blogs?  Well, this one is for my upcoming class, so I have an excuse.  I’m not generally a work ahead type student, but when I saw I needed a new blog, I jumped at it.  So, here I am blogging again…