Symposium to be held in Brisbane Australia 1-2 February 2008.
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Fiona Winston-Brown
Twenty delegates ranging from novices on social networking sites through to experts on both Facebook and Myspace grappled with the questions posed by Fiona Winston-Brown. Some of the observations and conclusions are noted below.
Libraries which had a Facebook or Myspace presence were considered as to whether the delegates thought the pages were effective. Both public and academic libraries whose social networking presences were simple and effective, with the catalogue embedded, were considered best. Some had other links to ebooks, Ask a Librarian, journals, databases and places to book a training session. It was considered from these observations that Facebook offers a slightly better and relevant quality for a library presence. The object is to be where the user is, when the user is there. It was also noted that generally speaking Myspace, with all its bells and whistles, tends to be where the school students tended to hang out, and not necessarily a good place for a general library presence. Facebook and Myspace clearly have different demographics and are appropriate for different audiences.
Next the advantages and disadvantages of having a Myspace or Facebook presence for a library were discussed. The advantages included the following points:
• Out there, cool and up-to-date
• Another way to have a presence
• Targeting to our different audiences and clients to be available on their own terms
• It’s great if the client finds the libraries social networking site and chooses the library as a friend but not acceptable for the library to solicit clients or to contact the clients initially
• A great presence for young people with pictures of activities in the library
• Not only for an external presence but can be used internally for training and meetings
Delegates noted the following disadvantages:
• As Myspace and Facebook are social places, it may be considered that the library is looking like it is trying too hard to be not what it is perceived to be, in other words a “try-hard”
• It may be considered that a social networking page was not the format or platform for the library as a professional presence
• As professionals, we move a lot in our jobs and if one person sets up the social networking presence, will it be maintained if that person goes to another job? Ongoing maintenance to keep up the presence may be a problem
What does a Facebook or Myspace page say about you? The advantages and disadvantages were again considered. The advantages offered were;
• It’s up to you what you want to say and it can be tailored to be limited to say certain things generally and more particular things to certain people or friends
• It show that you are not a stick in the mud, that you are willing to give it a go, that you are willing to explore and learn
Disadvantages suggested were as follows:
• For a library attempting to offer a Myspace or Facebook page, to have a council logo would be a turn off and it was too easy to get caught up in the look and feel of the page
• It shows that either you have too much time on your hands or you don’t do any work
• People can check up on you when you are going for a job interview, so what is appropriate in your social life, may not be appropriate in your professional life
Delegates spent time on setting up a social networking account and then considered what they had learnt. These observations follow:
• Time is needed to explore, look and think in order to create one’s Facebook or Myspace page
• Felt confident to have a go
• It’s sometimes too easy to put too much on one’s site and then have to take it off. It’s important to consider what you add, then you don’t have to remove it later.
• One needs to be careful and responsible for what one puts on the page and consider what it may be used for by other people
• There are people who hack into the private hidden stuff on social networking pages
• Add friends judiciously as it can be embarrassing on both sides when you find you have too many and have to block them later on
• Social networking pages are the new place for identity theft
• People who meet on Facebook or Myspace are then getting together socially and new friends are being made – even relationships and marriages!
Overall 85% of the delegates either have or will make a social networking page. Approximately 20% of the delegates thought it appropriate for a library to have a social networking presence.
FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE WORKSHOP (Friday 1st February, 2008)
Fiona Winston-Brown
Twenty delegates ranging from novices on social networking sites through to experts on both Facebook and Myspace grappled with the questions posed by Fiona Winston-Brown. Some of the observations and conclusions are noted below.
Libraries which had a Facebook or Myspace presence were considered as to whether the delegates thought the pages were effective. Both public and academic libraries whose social networking presences were simple and effective, with the catalogue embedded, were considered best. Some had other links to ebooks, Ask a Librarian, journals, databases and places to book a training session. It was considered from these observations that Facebook offers a slightly better and relevant quality for a library presence. The object is to be where the user is, when the user is there. It was also noted that generally speaking Myspace, with all its bells and whistles, tends to be where the school students tended to hang out, and not necessarily a good place for a general library presence. Facebook and Myspace clearly have different demographics and are appropriate for different audiences.
Next the advantages and disadvantages of having a Myspace or Facebook presence for a library were discussed. The advantages included the following points:
• Out there, cool and up-to-date
• Another way to have a presence
• Targeting to our different audiences and clients to be available on their own terms
• It’s great if the client finds the libraries social networking site and chooses the library as a friend but not acceptable for the library to solicit clients or to contact the clients initially
• A great presence for young people with pictures of activities in the library
• Not only for an external presence but can be used internally for training and meetings
Delegates noted the following disadvantages:
• As Myspace and Facebook are social places, it may be considered that the library is looking like it is trying too hard to be not what it is perceived to be, in other words a “try-hard”
• It may be considered that a social networking page was not the format or platform for the library as a professional presence
• As professionals, we move a lot in our jobs and if one person sets up the social networking presence, will it be maintained if that person goes to another job? Ongoing maintenance to keep up the presence may be a problem
What does a Facebook or Myspace page say about you? The advantages and disadvantages were again considered. The advantages offered were;
• It’s up to you what you want to say and it can be tailored to be limited to say certain things generally and more particular things to certain people or friends
• It show that you are not a stick in the mud, that you are willing to give it a go, that you are willing to explore and learn
Disadvantages suggested were as follows:
• For a library attempting to offer a Myspace or Facebook page, to have a council logo would be a turn off and it was too easy to get caught up in the look and feel of the page
• It shows that either you have too much time on your hands or you don’t do any work
• People can check up on you when you are going for a job interview, so what is appropriate in your social life, may not be appropriate in your professional life
Delegates spent time on setting up a social networking account and then considered what they had learnt. These observations follow:
• Time is needed to explore, look and think in order to create one’s Facebook or Myspace page
• Felt confident to have a go
• It’s sometimes too easy to put too much on one’s site and then have to take it off. It’s important to consider what you add, then you don’t have to remove it later.
• One needs to be careful and responsible for what one puts on the page and consider what it may be used for by other people
• There are people who hack into the private hidden stuff on social networking pages
• Add friends judiciously as it can be embarrassing on both sides when you find you have too many and have to block them later on
• Social networking pages are the new place for identity theft
• People who meet on Facebook or Myspace are then getting together socially and new friends are being made – even relationships and marriages!
Overall 85% of the delegates either have or will make a social networking page. Approximately 20% of the delegates thought it appropriate for a library to have a social networking presence.
FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE WORKSHOP (Friday 1st February, 2008)
Fiona Winston-Brown
Twenty delegates ranging from novices on social networking sites through to experts on both Facebook and Myspace grappled with the questions posed by Fiona Winston-Brown. Some of the observations and conclusions are noted below.
Libraries which had a Facebook or Myspace presence were considered as to whether the delegates thought the pages were effective. Both public and academic libraries whose social networking presences were simple and effective, with the catalogue embedded, were considered best. Some had other links to ebooks, Ask a Librarian, journals, databases and places to book a training session. It was considered from these observations that Facebook offers a slightly better and relevant quality for a library presence. The object is to be where the user is, when the user is there. It was also noted that generally speaking Myspace, with all its bells and whistles, tends to be where the school students tended to hang out, and not necessarily a good place for a general library presence. Facebook and Myspace clearly have different demographics and are appropriate for different audiences.
Next the advantages and disadvantages of having a Myspace or Facebook presence for a library were discussed. The advantages included the following points:
• Out there, cool and up-to-date
• Another way to have a presence
• Targeting to our different audiences and clients to be available on their own terms
• It’s great if the client finds the libraries social networking site and chooses the library as a friend but not acceptable for the library to solicit clients or to contact the clients initially
• A great presence for young people with pictures of activities in the library
• Not only for an external presence but can be used internally for training and meetings
Delegates noted the following disadvantages:
• As Myspace and Facebook are social places, it may be considered that the library is looking like it is trying too hard to be not what it is perceived to be, in other words a “try-hard”
• It may be considered that a social networking page was not the format or platform for the library as a professional presence
• As professionals, we move a lot in our jobs and if one person sets up the social networking presence, will it be maintained if that person goes to another job? Ongoing maintenance to keep up the presence may be a problem
What does a Facebook or Myspace page say about you? The advantages and disadvantages were again considered. The advantages offered were;
• It’s up to you what you want to say and it can be tailored to be limited to say certain things generally and more particular things to certain people or friends
• It show that you are not a stick in the mud, that you are willing to give it a go, that you are willing to explore and learn
Disadvantages suggested were as follows:
• For a library attempting to offer a Myspace or Facebook page, to have a council logo would be a turn off and it was too easy to get caught up in the look and feel of the page
• It shows that either you have too much time on your hands or you don’t do any work
• People can check up on you when you are going for a job interview, so what is appropriate in your social life, may not be appropriate in your professional life
Delegates spent time on setting up a social networking account and then considered what they had learnt. These observations follow:
• Time is needed to explore, look and think in order to create one’s Facebook or Myspace page
• Felt confident to have a go
• It’s sometimes too easy to put too much on one’s site and then have to take it off. It’s important to consider what you add, then you don’t have to remove it later.
• One needs to be careful and responsible for what one puts on the page and consider what it may be used for by other people
• There are people who hack into the private hidden stuff on social networking pages
• Add friends judiciously as it can be embarrassing on both sides when you find you have too many and have to block them later on
• Social networking pages are the new place for identity theft
• People who meet on Facebook or Myspace are then getting together socially and new friends are being made – even relationships and marriages!
Overall 85% of the delegates either have or will make a social networking page. Approximately 20% of the delegates thought it appropriate for a library to have a social networking presence.