Information professionals have long recognized the value of implementing web 2.0 technologies to reach out to their constituencies and we have seen in the past few weeks examples of how blogs are used by libraries to disseminate information about their programs and services, or use RSS as a way to provide newsfeeds of upcoming events, or use wikis as a resource tool and even a virtual policies and procedures manual for library staff. But is it possible to use social networks like Facebook and Ning, or the photo-sharing site, Flickr as a tool for libraries and librarians to enrich the lives of their constituencies?
The answer is in the affirmative.
Libraries have invaded their constituencies’ third place in what Farkas, in Social Software in Libraries, refer to as building a presence where the patrons are. A simple search online and on Facebook presented several examples of academic and public libraries that have put up a Facebook or Flickr accounts that complement their existing web sites in delivering content and information to their patrons. The Berkeley Public Library page and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library page, and the New York Public Library page on Facebook are prime examples of how public libraries have used the social network to deliver their information to their patrons. Patrons can subscribed to these pages as fans and interact with their libraries and other library users. Interaction is very informal and friendly and even result to continuing discussions or conversations. News feeds display information on upcoming events. Discussion boards would have hook questions to stimulate discussion like asking patrons what they are reading or short book reviews. And videos and photo streams via third-party applications like YouTube and Flickr are used to generate interest in their collection or to celebrate the long history of their library branches in the town that they serve.
One example is Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s photo stream on Flickr that shows their facilities at different eras of the county’s life. It creates a sense of belonging and remembrances of how integral libraries are to the community. My favorite of the lot is the picture of their book-mobile taken in 1943.
Academic libraries like the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library Facebook page of the University of Michigan provides assistance to students in their research needs. Links to subject and technology guides and other library resources are on the page, as well as, the search box to their own catalog and that of WorldCat. It even deployed a Meebo plugin on their Facebook site so students can instant message a librarian. Institutional and research libraries are also using Facebook like the Smithsonian Institution Libraries page which provides the institution an opportunity to not only inform about upcoming lecture series and exhibits in their halls, but also to showcase their rare and special collections via a Flickr photo stream. Library organizations and conferences have also joined the bandwagon as they use a Facebook page to reach and inform members and attendees.
Lastly, Facebook and Flickr have been mostly used by public libraries to reach out to that group among their constituencies that are most likely always on those sites – teenagers.YALSA or the Young Adult Library Services Association have created a wiki that list public libraries that are implementing web 2.0 technologies and tool kits for librarians and libraries interested in developing one. One example is the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg’s photo stream on Flickr features photos from successful teen programs and events. Another one worth mentioning is the Anderson Public Library teen scene – a social network created on Ning. I visited the site but was not really able to explore it as one need to be a member of the group to be able to do so. I think that it was a great idea for Anderson Public Library to use Ning and limit access to content like pictures and information about its members (which would be mostly teens) to protect them from those with malicious intent. And it also fosters a sense among its members of having their own virtual clubhouse and encourages them to maintain it by adding content.