Social Searching Social Searching on the Web on the Web

Max MaciasMax MaciasEmporia State University Emporia State University

Social Searching Social Searching DefinitionDefinition

Social searching in this presentation Social searching in this presentation means searching via your friends, friend means searching via your friends, friend updates, posts, and bookmarks.updates, posts, and bookmarks. One can search keywords, or ask questions One can search keywords, or ask questions

directly to your friends on various platforms. directly to your friends on various platforms.

There are search engines that take user There are search engines that take user voting into consideration, but for this voting into consideration, but for this presentation I am focusing on the above. presentation I am focusing on the above.

Social Searching is Social Searching is DevelopingDeveloping

People like to seek information from People like to seek information from others, friends, relatives, etc.others, friends, relatives, etc.

Social searching is in infancy stateSocial searching is in infancy state Not much written on this yet. Article in July, Not much written on this yet. Article in July,

08 Online magazine: Searching the Twitter 08 Online magazine: Searching the Twitter Realm by Realm by Greg R. Notess.

No rules/make it up as you go.No rules/make it up as you go. Some libraries use Delicious, Twitter, Some libraries use Delicious, Twitter,

Facebook, YouTube, and more…Facebook, YouTube, and more… Many platforms for social searchingMany platforms for social searching

DIGG, , REDDIT, , Amazon, , Mahalo

Focus on Three Focus on Three TechnologiesTechnologies

Facebook:Facebook: A social networking A social networking

site.site.

Twitter:Twitter: A micro-blogging A micro-blogging

serviceservice

Delicious:Delicious: A social book-marking A social book-marking

serviceservice

Friend 3

Friend 2

Friend

Max

Social TechnologyFacebook

TwitterDelicious

Querying “friends” on Querying “friends” on FacebookFacebook

Friends=Database/s (on Twitter and Friends=Database/s (on Twitter and Delicious too)Delicious too) Friend’s knowledgebase serves as database to Friend’s knowledgebase serves as database to

search. Friend type will have great impact on search. Friend type will have great impact on knowledgebase, e.g. friend is a librarian, knowledgebase, e.g. friend is a librarian, teacher, doctor, etc.teacher, doctor, etc.

Not too much luck searching on this platform Not too much luck searching on this platform yet. I only have 1070 friends however.yet. I only have 1070 friends however.

I am focusing on libraries, artists, and writers I am focusing on libraries, artists, and writers as my friends at the moment. I want to build as my friends at the moment. I want to build these areas of my available knowledge base.these areas of my available knowledge base.

Querying “friends” on Querying “friends” on Facebook 2Facebook 2

I have had great luck by contacting friends I have had great luck by contacting friends via the chat utility on Facebook.via the chat utility on Facebook.

It takes time to get to know others. Take It takes time to get to know others. Take your time getting to know friend’s expertise your time getting to know friend’s expertise areas.areas.

I have asked questions about my papers, I have asked questions about my papers, and new ideas I have had.and new ideas I have had.

Jane Dysart is an expert on emerging tech. Jane Dysart is an expert on emerging tech. Emerging tech ?’s can be directed to her.Emerging tech ?’s can be directed to her.

Question is likely to be answered if “friend” Question is likely to be answered if “friend” is interested in the subject.is interested in the subject.

Twitter/Twitter Search/Twitter Search I ask my friends on twitter questions I ask my friends on twitter questions

and receive good responses sometimes. and receive good responses sometimes. Twitter Search and and Tweetscan

Allows me to search people’s updates Allows me to search people’s updates (tweets). Here I’ve searched for “social (tweets). Here I’ve searched for “social media.”media.”

Search results Again—they will vary according to who your Again—they will vary according to who your

friends are and your relationship with them.friends are and your relationship with them.

Delicious SearchingDelicious Searching Users can search their friends book Users can search their friends book

marks.marks. Ability to subscribe to searches/tags Ability to subscribe to searches/tags

and receive updates.and receive updates. Friends can send you links of interestFriends can send you links of interest Again, the quality of your search Again, the quality of your search

results will depend on who your results will depend on who your friends are and their interests.friends are and their interests.

Libraries Use DeliciousLibraries Use Delicious

PCC library has a Delicious account PCC library has a Delicious account it makes available to patrons.it makes available to patrons.

San Jose Library’s Learning San Jose Library’s Learning BookmarksBookmarks

ConclusionConclusion Building social technology into library website Building social technology into library website

design at some level can provide a new design at some level can provide a new infrastructure for searching.infrastructure for searching.

Social searching can provide new information Social searching can provide new information searching tools for library websites.searching tools for library websites.

Social searching can be used to improve access Social searching can be used to improve access to information in libraries and non-profits.to information in libraries and non-profits.

This technology is currently being explored in This technology is currently being explored in libraries as I have shown.libraries as I have shown.

Business use Social searching to keep track of Business use Social searching to keep track of trends.trends.