Social networking ... online

Facebook? Bebo? Twitter?
Decaynne? Orkut? Foursquare?
Nexopia? Studivz? Myspace? Friendster?
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Which social networking tool should a library use?

There are so many options which a library could choose from but
Facebook certainly seems to be the most popular (for now).

Perhaps the main question one should ask is --
should a library use a social networking tool at all?
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As a service provided by a local council we already have space on the
council's website. Library members, new residents, ratepayers and
interested parties can all gain access to information about the library
and it's catalog. The IT person at our library and community
information staff already contribute and manage this data in what
can be quite a time consuming activity.

AS one of the busiest library services in NSW do we really need to have a facebook page too?
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The answer is No and Yes. No, for just some of the reasons already
listed but also Yes for just some of the following reasons:

* To make users of social networking tools (in this case facebook) who are not part of the local community area aware of the library and to provide access (a link) to the library's (and council's) website. [ADVERTISE]

--> Some of the information provided on this facebook page could be just snippets of what is already found on the library page of the council's website or it could be an extension of what is already there.

Examples could include:

1. Pictures and embedded videos of recent events at the library - e.g. children's school holiday programs

2. Pictures and embedded videos of historical events involving the library - e.g. the original library's demolition through to it's rebirth in 2011 as part of the concourse developement

*To allow library member's to interact and choose what information they want to receive and when. [CLIENT INTERACTION]

Examples of this interaction could include:

1. Allowing library members to suggest items for purchase, vote on their favourite books and write reviews on them.

2. Providing library members with the ability to sign up for the library newsletter, notification of the author talks and other council events e.g. bushwalks or the Spring Festival

* To provide other means of communication between libraries and other related organisations [NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES]

---> We could be "friends" with not only our neighbouring libraries but also with those around Australia and the world.

Photo: "Blue Marble (Planet Earth)" by Woodleywonderworks found on Flickr, courtesy of NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center.