Online Social Networks - A Role for Libraries?

“Information is no longer king of the Internet; social networking IS” (Blowers). Perhaps this is a reflection of the fact that there is now a much broader spectrum of Internet users.

It’s funny to discover that, in his musings about online social networks, Stephen Abram had quoted Joni Mitchell just as I did last week. Sure, people have been aware for a long time that change is constant (Abram quotes Heraclitus), but the pace of change is increasing at an ever faster rate and will continue to do so; we’re ever adapting to new developments. However, I like the French expression, “plus ça change, plus ça reste”, meaning "the more things change, the more they stay the same". Although new developments in technology allow us many new opportunities and new learning challenges, human beings are the same in their behaviours. Whether they socialize in person, on the telephone, on chat lines, or through online social networks, they still have the same wants and needs.

With the proliferation of social software types, libraries are exploring new ways of reaching potential and actual patrons online. Farkas feels that “the more links to the library the better”; this is probably inevitable as software types continue to proliferate. However, I think it is important that the appearance of the various link pages is made similar to be easily identifiable. Trouble is, it takes time to set up a really effective presentation, and it is hard for many libraries to drum up first the expertise and second the hours needed to develop and maintain their online presence. Farkas comments that among the few successes there are many failed attempts by libraries at using the two all-pervasive giants of online social networking, MySpace or Facebook.

As several authors commented this week, libraries are wasting their time if they are using these software just to be “cool”; there has to be a purpose. Abram assures us that online social networking is a trend; in other words, it is here to stay but will evolve. The problem is, the particular software being used is a fad—the migration from MySpace to Facebook by many in search of improved privacy in recent months illustrates this. If the library’s goal is to provide services to or to receive input from patrons where they are, the library must remain proactive in seeing changing patterns online and being ready to establish a presence on the next new software advance.

Schmidt suggests that library staff ask teens to manage the library’s MySpace account—this would need a group of very committed teens. Farkas discusses an important point—do the young patrons want the presence of the library among their friends, in their “space”? It is indeed important to poll the individual community before establishing a library account. I would like to see a study done about the reaction from youth with MySpace or Facebook accounts to their library’s presence.

Amongst all this is the library’s role as educator in wise use of online social networking. Parents would be interested in information sessions. Teens could be best reached as they use the networks, with discussions about privacy and about rules of behaviour.