Making Friends Online: Library Use of Social Networking Services Cris Ferguson Furman University, [email protected]

Against the Grain

Volume 19 | Issue 3 Article 38

June 2007 Technology Left Behind -- Making Friends Online: Library Use of Social Networking Services Cris Ferguson Furman University, [email protected]

Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/atg Part of the Library and Information Science Commons

Recommended Citation Ferguson, Cris (2007) "Technology Left Behind -- Making Friends Online: Library Use of Social Networking Services," Against the Grain: Vol. 19: Iss. 3, Article 38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.5395

This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Technology Left Behind — Making Friends Online: Library Use of Social Networking Services Column Editor: Cris Ferguson (Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian, James B. Duke Library, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613; Phone: 864-294-2713) Column Editor’s Note: In the Febru- There are a large number of social net- reference questions come through the library’s ary 2007 issue of Against the Grain, Karen working Websites, many catering to a specific profile page. Evans also notes that BCL stu- Christensen discussed a variety of social audience. Each one offers slightly different dents have sometimes used MySpace’s internal media and their uses. This column will take functionalities and allows users varying de- email and commenting functions to carry on a more in-depth look at one particular social grees of customization. As young users flock discussions. Overall, the feedback on the BCL media, social networking Websites such as to these sites to build their own online com- page has been positive. MySpace and Facebook, focusing on how munities, libraries are increasingly turning to Robin Chan, Sr. LTA and Government libraries are using these sites to connect with social networking sites themselves to connect Documents/Ask A Librarian at the University their patrons and each other. — CF with their patrons and with each other. For of Central Florida Libraries, maintains the the purposes of this discussion of social net- UCF Ask A Librarian MySpace page, which working services and how libraries are taking In her article “Balancing the Online Life” was created in April 2006. Similar to the BCL advantage of them, I will be focusing on two in the January 2007 issue of American Librar- page, the UCF Ask A Librarian page provides specific social networking web sites,MySpace ies, Meredith Farkas defines social software information about the UCF Libraries’ services and . as “applications that enable the formation of Facebook and collections, highlighting popular resources online communities at the grassroots level.” MySpace and tutorials on how to use the library. Chan and a colleague at UCF entered the MySpace Farkas highlights a number of ways in which MySpace, billed as a ‘place for friends,’ de- people are using social software to build rela- arena and built the UCF Ask A Librarian fines itself quite simply as “an online commu- profile with the goal, says Chan, of creating tionships online, mentioning activities such as nity that lets you meet your friends’ friends.” “building spaces that allow others to comment “a promotional tool that would create aware- (http://www.myspace.com/Modules/Common/ ness among our patrons who have profiles on on or even edit our content,” “networking Pages/AboutUs.aspx) New MySpace users and communicating with friends, colleagues, MySpace.” Chan went on to say, “Even if they create profiles of themselves, with as much or denied our friend request, we would hope that and patrons, online, both synchronously and as little detail as each user prefers. A profile asynchronously,” “producing audio and video they at least took a cursory look at our profile could include information about the user, his and saw what services we made available and content and making available to the masses,” general interests, hobbies, taste in music, edu- and creating “profiles of ourselves, lists of the then sought us out in the future (not necessarily cation, and employment. Profiles can also be through MySpace).” music we listen to on our iPods, collections of customized with graphics, music, video, and our photos for people to comment on, spaces pictures. The MySpace interface provides a Demonstrating that MySpace can be used where we share our thoughts and more.” She number of networking tools in a simple and to connect with people beyond a patron base, goes on to mention a variety of social software relatively self-explanatory interface, including Beth Hoeffgen, Branch Youth Services Facili- technologies that facilitate the building of facilities that enable users to send messages tator at the Public Library of Mount Vernon online communities, including blogs, wikis, back and forth to each other, blog, post bulletins and Knox County/Ohio, created her MySpace instant messaging, including some discussion to friends, leave comments for other MySpace page primarily as a vehicle for a presentation to of how librarians are using these technologies users, and instant message. the Ohio Library Council entitled, “Using the to reach their patrons. Web to Support YA Services.” She says, she Many libraries have seized upon the Social networking services, briefly men- “also wanted to network (reach other librarians networking opportunities MySpace affords, with similar interests) and help educate librar- tioned in passing by Farkas, can also facilitate building their own profiles and connecting the creation of online communities. Key to ians who are just getting started with Web 2.0 with users. A quick search of the MySpace services for teens.” Her page, which has been the success of a social network is the ability to site using just the search term ‘library’ reveals make connections with people in your network. live since August 2006, has been viewed a little a large number of libraries, both public and over 600 times, and she has accumulated over While different social networking Websites academic. I contacted a few of the libraries I call connections by different names (MySpace 300 friends. (Beth added me in March 2007, came across on MySpace to see what prompted and I now count myself amongst her MySpace and Facebook both use the term ‘friend.’), the them to build a MySpace page, how they are general idea is to link your profile to the profiles friends.) Like Evans, Hoeffgen has also made using the profile, and what the reaction has use of the blog feature, providing an outline of your friends, colleagues, co-workers, etc., been from patrons. building an online community with which of her upcoming presentation to the Ohio you can interact. Social networking Websites Beth Evans, Electronic Information Ser- Library Council, as well as information on a bring together under one umbrella a variety of vices Specialist at Brooklyn College Library variety of other topics. relationship management tools in an easy-to- (BCL), was inspired to create a BCL MySpace It is important to note that academic librar- use, free interface, allowing users a variety of page by her then 15-year-old daughter Nell, ies are not the only libraries using MySpace methods for keeping in touch with each other. whom Evans describes as MySpace-addicted. to connect with their users. Stoneham Public Common features include: BCL officially launched its MySpace page Library (SPL) in Stoneham, Massachusetts in December 2005. Through some concerted launched its MySpace page in April 2006. • profiles that allow users to describe efforts on the part of two interns and a student themselves and their interests, The pages creator, Theresa Maturevich was worker, by May 2005 BCL had over 1700 inspired to build the page after hearing news • the ability to upload pictures, music, and friends on its MySpace page, the vast major- stories about the negative aspects of social / or video content, ity of which were Brooklyn College students. networking and at the same time observing • an internal messaging system allowing BCL’s total number of friends as of March a number of the teens and ‘tweens in her users to communicate within the social 2007 is over 3,200. library using MySpace. (Note: Maturevich networking framework, BCL uses the MySpace blog feature to has since left Stoneham, but still maintains • a utility to post messages to all of your post messages about events and collections at the SPL MySpace page in the interim.) Says ‘friends’ at one time, and the library. Evans feels that students primarily Maturevich of the initiative, “I thought it • the establishment of groups bringing use the BCL MySpace page to receive such would be a great opportunity to both tap into announcements. She has found that very few together users with common interests. continued on page 87 86 Against the Grain / June 2007 Technology Left Behind ... At this time, the BUL group is geared pre- and users, and as David Magolis points out, dominately toward BUL students, but Magolis the sites are easy-to-use and free of charge. from page 86 is willing to provide library services to anyone You have nothing to lose and only ‘friends’ who contacts him, regardless of whether or not to gain. a new trend in technology to publicize the col- the individual is a Bloomsburg University lection, programs, and services and use it as a student. The BUL group page does not gener- Websites and Profiles of Interest conversational tool to address Internet safety ate a great deal of traffic, a fact that Magolis Facebook — http://www.facebook.com concerns with my young patrons.” SPL’s attributes this to the discussion board format MySpace — http://www.myspace.com MySpace page was introduced in conjunc- of the communication. He notes, “I think that Brooklyn College Library — http://www. tion with two library programs about social patrons might be intimated by the discussion myspace.com/brooklyncollegelibrary networking, demonstrating how MySpace board nature of the group where individuals pages can be integrated into library program- can go back and see what questions have UCF Ask A Librarian — http://www.myspace. ming. One program catered specifically to been posted.” However, Magolis has seen a com/ucfaskalibrarian teens, demonstrating some of the fun things that significant increase in the traffic to his email Ohio YA Librarian — http://www.myspace. could be added to MySpace pages (layouts, address. He says, “I get the sense that patrons com/ohioyalibrarian slideshows, etc.), also touching on techniques see my email address attached to a help site and for making a profile and online activities more Stoneham Public Library — http://www. proceed to use it as a means of connecting with myspace.com/stonehamlibrary safety-conscious. The other program was an a librarian. The questions that I now receive via Internet safety presentation geared towards email have increased by 60+ percent.” Bloomsburg University Library — http://furman adults, focusing on understanding and reducing .facebook.com/group.php?gid=2221364457 the risks for children and teens online. Does Your Library Need Its American Library Association — http://www. Facebook Own Social Network? myspace.com/atyourlibrary David Magolis indicates that the Blooms- As a social networking Website, Facebook burg University Library Facebook Group is very similar to MySpace. Like MySpace, page has been well-received and students are Facebook users create profiles of themselves excited about the new avenue of communica- by posting pictures, providing information tion with the library. He says that he “would about their musical interests, education, and encourage libraries to offer this easy, user- other factors. Also similar to MySpace, friendly, and most importantly FREE service Facebook offers users the ability to message to our patrons!” each other, post messages to a bulletin board- type feature, blog, and join groups. Although, If you are interested in creating an online MySpace allows users a greater degree of community for your own library using a social customization in terms of the appearance of networking Website, you are not alone, and the profile, actual functionalities do not vary there are resources out there to help you get to a great degree across most social network- started. Wikipedia provides a fairly robust ing Websites. list of social networking Websites (http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_net- One of the principal differences between working_websites), including a very brief MySpace and Facebook is the primary audi- description of the focus of each site. If you are ence. Facebook was originally built as a social interested in one particular social networking network for college students. While Facebook site, I would suggest contacting the libraries has recently opened itself up to other organi- and librarians that are already using that site. zations and age groups, the vast majority of The libraries and librarians I contacted regard- Facebook users remains college age students, ing their Facebook and MySpace profiles were making it an ideal interface for college and uni- very willing to share information about their versity libraries looking to connect with their pages, how they are using their profiles, and patrons. Bloomsburg University Library how they promote them. (BUL) has taken advantage of this opportunity, creating its own Facebook Group in the Fall For libraries just getting started using semester of 2006. The BUL Facebook Group MySpace, Robin Chan at UCF manages the page is managed by David Magolis, Reference Libraries on MySpace Group, which has Librarian and Webmaster at BUL. been set up as a resource to aid libraries and librarians who are interested in creating pages Magolis says the idea for a BUL group on MySpace. The site acts as a forum for grew out of an online class he was teaching. libraries to discuss their successes and chal- As the instructor, Magolis found his students lenges. The page also provides links to several were somewhat isolated both from each other sites that offer MySpace editors or pre-made and from him because of the online nature of MySpace layouts for users that would like the class. As a result, says Magolis, “I tried to have a customized page without having to to devise a way where students could have a spend the time creating it themselves, allowing degree of personal contact similar to a face- Resources even the most technically unsavvy users to edit to-face classroom but in a virtual environ- Evans, Beth. “Your Space or MySpace?” and customize their pages. ment. Therefore, I required the students to netConnect. (Fall 2006). http://www.library- sign up for a Facebook account and we used Beth Evans at Brooklyn College Li- journal.com/article/CA6375465.html this communication medium throughout the brary wrote a helpful article, “Your Space or Farkas, Meredith. “Balancing the Online semester.” The Facebook experiment proved MySpace?,” for netConnect outlining some Life.” American Libraries 38, no. 1 (January very effective for the online class; student of the ways that BCL and other libraries have 2007): 42-45. interaction increased and the student feedback used their MySpace pages to connect with Magolis received was positive. Consequently, patrons and promote services. (See the list of Acknowledgements he “decided to create a group that was open references for the complete citation.) My thanks to all of the various libraries to the university where students could access I highly recommend giving social network- and librarians who supplied me with informa- a librarian on their time and place but most ing Websites a closer look. All of the librarians tion regarding their MySpace and Facebook importantly in their environment where they I contacted about social networking reported profiles. are comfortable.” receiving positive feedback from their patrons Against the Grain / June 2007 87