Social Networking in Libraries

Meredith FarkasNorwich University

Web 1.0: Democratized access to information

Web 2.0: Democratized participation

Social software: My definition

A tool must meet at least two of the following conditions:

1. It allows people to communicate, collaborate and build community online 2. It can be syndicated, shared, reused or remixed, or it facilitates syndication 3. It allows people to easily learn from and capitalize on the behavior or knowledge of others.

Social Software Trends for Libraries

Highlight collections

Create community around collections

Collect and disseminate knowledge

Go where our users are

Have transparent conversations with our users

Improve internal knowledge-sharing

Communicate with users at the point of need

Strategies for implementing social software

Know your users

Develop a risk-tolerant culture

Develop a learning culture

Involve staff at all levels in planning

Capitalize on your network

Time must be devoted to this

Questions?

mfarkas(at)gmail(dot)comTwitter/FriendFeed: librarianmer

Slides and links at meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com