Are Libraries Stretching Themselves Too Far?

A thought ran through my head as I examined the case studies for this week plus other examples linked from them and the examples referred to by Farkas in her post: do libraries need to develop a presence on an online social network?? The reason this thought stayed so prominently in my mind is that a lot of the examples of libraries’ efforts on MySpace and Facebook seem awkward, out of place, overly busy with detail (not well laid out) or too unused to be of interest. In the MySpace environment, the advertising strip at the top of the screen, plus all the MySpace tabs distract from the library’s presentation; having library information on a commercial site doesn’t fit. Orange County Library System had to state a disclaimer: “the views and opinions expressed in the ads and banners of MySpace are not those of the [library]”.
I also found the set MySpace profiles very odd—libraries were given a "gender", an "age" (e.g., 86 years old), a "sign of the zodiac", a "level of education". What teen would want to converse with someone 86 years old on MySpace?! In other words, I don't think the commercial online social network environment fits the library context at all well.

I noticed that many of the “friends” on the MySpace library environments were musicians, composers, narrators, puppeteers, theatre groups, authors—people interested in advertising themselves, and people thanking the library for its having advertising them. The ordinary teen patron might be interested in linking to these “friends” and finding out more about them. In a way, there is a networking going on—perhaps this would be a good purpose for a library presence on MySpace.

A site that set itself apart from all of the commercial online social network presences is MyOwnCafe, set up by the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Library System. Because it was not on a commercial site, it would be more difficult ot find. But the site states its purpose clearly: “a site where teens…find out what other teens in their own and nearby communities are talking about, reading, listening to, watching, pl.aying, and doing…a place to find information and post information..a pladce to do research and get help with research." It pays to design a professional looking site. Downloadable music, a chat reference service, a portal to the catalogue, advice on careers and scholarhships—there are information of interest to students gathered in one place.

The Hennepin Country Library had a clean, bright design, with a catalogue portal, and links to many other parts of the library's website, also gathering information in one place. But isn’t that what websites--and some blogs and wikis for libraries--were doing already? Yes, but perhaps a choice of information gathered to cater to the young audience makes this environment more useful for them.

The UWO Live Journal is a idea for a networking opportunity that libraries could use. I was impressed that there were 399 members. A teen chat equivalent could be sponsored by the library—to serve a question and answer purpose for information finding for students. The UIUC Undergraduate Library MySpace is also well used, with links to 520 “friends", but I am not sure the library has a role as a link to the often very personal conversations on the "friends" pages.

In conclusion, online social networks are just one of many options in social software available to libraries, and I think libraries should restrict themselves in which software they choose and make a really professional resource out of their choice.