Not Just Facebook: Online Social Networks For Libraries

My notes from Gerry McKiernan’s excellent workshop today.

jim

This afternoon’s preconference, “Not Just Facebook…” was as the workshop title suggests an overview of Facebook and the myriad social networks out there that aim to serve specialized niche communities.

Wikipedia offers this definition of a social network service.

A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services.

Social networking has created new ways to communicate and share information. Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people, and it now seems that social networking will be an enduring part of everyday life. The main types of social networking services are those which contain directories of some categories (such as former classmates), means to connect with friends (usually with self-description pages), and recommender systems linked to trust. Popular methods now combine many of these, with MySpace and Facebook being the most widely used in North America;^[1] Nexopia (mostly in Canada);^[2] Bebo,^[3] Facebook, Hi5, MySpace, Tagged and Skyrock in parts of Europe;^[4] Orkut and Hi5 in South America and Central America;^[5] and Friendster, Orkut, and Cyworld in Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Facebook Overview

• Launched on Feb 4, 2004
• Founded by Mark Zuckerman at Harvard
• Expanded from Harvard to other colleges and universities, then to high schools, then to companies, and then to anyone.
• Facebook is the most trafficked social network site in the world and the 4th most trafficked website in the world. October 2008.

Zuckerman and Facebook have had a long running legal battle with a couple of Harvard students who created a rival social network ConnectU.  The case was settled out of court in June.

• 110 million facebook members (October 2008)

Facebook profiles can be as detailed or as brief as a person wishes.  Facebook revenue is developed through targeted advertising based on information a member provides in their profile.

Core features in Facebook

• Friends
• Inbox and Messages
• News Feed and Status
• Profile and mini-feed
• Pokes
• Requests and Notifications
• The Wall

Applications are a big part of Facebook–but most are aimed at entertainment

Types of Apps

• Groups
• Pages
• Events
• Notes
• Posted Items
• Video
• 3rd party applications

Facebook has worked hard to improve protection of members’ privacy.

Facebook Pages offer a huge opportunity for libraries, since they allow libraries to reach out to a wider community of customers and potential customers.  Administrators of pages can add elements to their page that bring the library to fb such as: discussion boards, photos, videos, catalog applications either custom created APIs or OCLC’s find in a library app.  Libraries also can add events, which can be added to their “fans” calendars if they choose to attend.  The event is then added to the fan’s page which alerts their friends to the event, and potentially entices them to attend with their friend.  In addition to these libraries can add RSS feeds, social bookmarks (delicious), user guides/pathfinders and wikis.  Many, many libraries have created facebook pages–many universities have created sophisticated custom applications which allow searching of the libraries catalog and databases.–not surprising since fb got it’s start in colleges and universities.

Niche Social Networks

defined:  a niche social network can be defined as an online community whose members share specific common or general common interests, or cultural affiliations.

Niche networks will likely continue to grow in 2008 and beyond.

There are niche networks for these large categories

• Academia and Education
• Books
• Boomers
• Business
• Gay/Lesbian/Transgender/Bisexual
• People of Color
• Religion
• Researchers and Scientists

Academe and Education

• Classroom 2.0
• Eduspaces
• OpenAcademic

Books

• Booksconnect
• ConnectViaBooks
• Shelfari

Boomers

• Boomj
• Eons
• TeeBeeDee

Business

• LinkedIn
• Ryze
• Spoke

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender

• Gays.com
• GLEE
• OUTeverywhere

People of Color

• AsianAve.com
• Black Planet
• MiGente.com

Religion

• JewCrew
• MyChurch
• Muslim Spaces

Researchers and Scientists

• BioMedExperts
• Muse: The National internet2 K20 Initiative Online Social Network
• Nature Network
• Pronetos
• ResearchGATE Scientific Network
• SciSpace: The Social Networking Site For Scientists

Internet Librarian 2008 schedule

The Internet Librarian conference begins on Monday, but I’m attending a preconference on Saturday and Sunday, so yesterday was my big day to get organized.  Each day of the main conference is organized into tracks of related presentations, nearly all of which look really terrific.  It’s hard to choose where to be and when and in some cases I couldn’t decide from just the program so I’ve marked myself down for more than one thing at a time. In at least one case I’m down to be in three places at once, because they all look too good to pass up.

Here’s a brief peek at my schedule if you see something that interests you from one of the workshops drop me a line and we’ll talk when I return.  Or if you’re attending the conference, and you see we’re attending the same presentation, please say hello. 

jim

Saturday

W3 ◗ Not Just Facebook:
Online Social Networks for Libraries
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sunday

W12 ◗ Podcasting & Videocasting Boot Camp
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

SUNDAY EVENING PROGRAM ◗ DeAnza I & II
Gaming & Gadgets Petting Zoo
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Monday

TRACK B ◗ Outreach & Marketing PLs in a 2.0 World  De Anza III

This stream of PL-oriented sessions focuses on Marketing 2.0 with presenters sharing case studies, best practices, and practical take-aways to get your library social media/presence out there and used without breaking the bank.  We’ll include some intriguing research on 2.0 tools in public libraries and an expert panel Q&A.

Moderated by Aaron Schmidt, North Plains Public Library

B101 ◗ Giving Your Marketing and Advocacy a Second Life
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

B102 ◗ Digital Marketing: Successful Plans/Organizations
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

LUNCH BREAK ◗ 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

B103 ◗ Making a Difference With Digital Media
1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

B104 ◗ Online Marketing & Promotion:
Making It Fun & Economical
2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

B105 ◗ Public Libraries & Web 2.0: Research Findings
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

B106 ◗ Public Library Issues & Reflections
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday

Tuesday is a mess for me schedule wise–there are just too many choices.  Question is do I attend something that looks fun and possibly useful and presented by someone I really want to hear speak, or something that is useful and perhaps less interesting.  I have a feeling I’m going to be running here and there all day Tuesday.

Here are the tracks I’m thinking about.

TRACK B ◗ Innovation & Change

Moderated by Helene Blowers, Columbus Metropolitan Library

TRACK C ◗ Learning
De Anza I & II

Organized and moderated by Rebecca Jones, Dysart & Jones Associates

TRACK D ◗ Solving Problems

Organized and moderated by Aaron Schmidt, North Plains Public Library

C201 ◗ LOL @ Your Library: Live Online Learning
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

D201 ◗ Solving the Reference Desk Problem
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

B202 ◗ Fostering Creativity & Innovation in Your Staff
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

D202 ◗ Solving the Money Problem
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

LUNCH BREAK ◗ A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

D203 ◗ Solving the OPAC Problem
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

B204 ◗ Who Moved My Ultrafiche & 8-Tracks?
Insights for the Future
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

B205 ◗ Ubiquitous Computing & Libraries
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

D205 ◗ Solving the Buy-In Problem InteractiveDiscussion, Speakers From the Day, & Audience

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TUESDAY EVENING SESSION ◗ 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ◗ De Anza I & II

Good Internet Librarian Practices Worldwide
Erik Boekesteijn & Jaap van de Geer, Delft Public Library
Join the ShanachieTour and hear about the latest excursions and findings from libraries around the world – Jamaica, the Netherlands, North America, and more! Over coffee
and cookies, be inspired by the Shanachie group’s enthusiasm and video skills and learn about some exciting practices around the world.

Wednesday

Another messed up day for me, though less so than Tuesday.  Although I still don’t know how I’m going to manage being in three places at once this afternoon.

KEYNOTE ◗ 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. ◗ San Carlos BallroomSocial Media & Networked Technologies: Research & Insights

Today’s tracks

TRACK B ◗ Social Media
Steinbeck Forum

Moderated by Michael Sauers, Nebraska Library Commission

TRACK C ◗ Virtual Worlds & Gaming
De Anza I & II

Moderated by Mary Auckland, Consultant

TRACK D ◗ Planning
De Anza III

Moderated by Donna Sheeder, Law Library of Congress

B301 ◗ Defining & Measuring Social Media Success
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

D301 ◗ Crafting the User-Centered Library
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

B302 ◗ Twitter & How the “Twittest”
Use It for Keeping Up
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

LUNCH RECEPTION ◗ In the Exhibit Hall
12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

B303 ◗ Making Movies: Cameras, Lights, Action
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

D303 ◗ Pecha Kucha – Conversation Face-Off!
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

B304 ◗ What’s Hot in RSS & Social Software
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

C304 ◗ Second Life Library Profiles
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

D304 ◗ Library Floor Plans 2.0
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

CLOSING KEYNOTE ◗ 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ◗ San Carlos Ballroom