[Web4lib] Facebook for Library Outreach : Don't Be Left In The Dust...

[Vaughn-Tucker, Dani A.]

So does this mean that librarians/information professionals should
consider throwing in the towel when it comes to using current social
networking sites?  Or, could this be this generation's reaction to the
older generation's reaction to using the telephone for reference
services?  Probably a stretch, but I'm sure there were people back in
the day who were saying, "If I want library assistance, I'll go into the
library.  I don't want to call'em up."  

I think using social networking sites is a proactive option that should
be used without being intrusive into the lives of the patrons (e.g.
library's probably should not actively friend patrons, but should allow
patrons to friend them).

Regards,
 
Dani 
 
"Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with..." Billy
Dee Williams in Mahogany
 
 
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Gerry Mckiernan
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 5:14 PM
To: lita-l at ala1.ala.org; asis-L at asis.org; web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Facebook for Library Outreach : Don't Be Left In The
Dust...

***APOLOGIES FOR RECEIPT OF DUPLICATE POSTINGS***
Colleagues/

I have discovered A Most Interesting Post That Has Thrown Chills Up My
Liver [:-)

[University of Michigan Survey] / Posted December 15, 2007 /
userslib.com 

QUESTION: If you could contact a librarian via Facebook or MySpace for
help with your research, would you? If not, why?

Data/Analysis

A total of 23% of respondents stated that *yes* or *maybe* they
would be interested in contacting a librarian via these two social
networking sites.

Undergrads had a slightly higher than average percentage of 34%.

Nearly half of the total respondents stated they would not be
interested, but for various reasons - the biggest reason being that they
feel the current methods (in-person, email, IM) are more than
sufficient. 14% said no because they felt it was inappropriate or that
Facebook/MySpace is a social tool, not a research tool.

Links / Graphics / And More at 

[
http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/data-students-facebook-
library-outreach.html
]
[ http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/ ]

Thanks to Suzanne Chapman, interface and user testing specialist for
the University of Michigan Library*s Digital Library Production
Service, and Team !!!

>From A Snowing Central Iowa ...

/Gerry 

Gerry McKiernan
Associate Professor
Science and Technology Librarian
Iowa State University Library
Ames IA 50011

gerrymck at iastate.edu 

There is Nothing More Powerful Than  An Idea Whose Time Has Come 
Victor Hugo 
[ http://www.blogger.com/profile/09093368136660604490 ]

Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows

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