[Web4lib] Facebook

[Andrew Bangert]

Michael,

Aside from the potential for interaction (absent from most library web 
sites),  it is about pushing information to students.

To expand on what Chester said, regarding putting the library where 
students will encounter it as part of their normal routines,
it isn't just about being at hand, but about not requiring them to come 
to you at all, anywhere, in order to learn of something.

If a student follows (becomes a "fan" of) the library FB page, updates 
to the page will show up in the stream of updates that is the student's 
FB homepage.
It is a way to reach into the stream of information that they are paying 
attention to, to drop information they aren't seeking out in their lap.

As others have pointed out, you can use the FB page as a conduit for 
existing RSS or Twitter feeds.  Doing so puts these feeds in a form that 
a student, rather than a 30 year old blogger, developer, etc., might 
actually use and monitor.

-Andrew

Mitchell, Michael wrote:
> What are the advantages of Facebook over Web pages on the library Web
> site? I'm afraid I really don't understand. I just don't see anything
> special there. I'm really asking, not trolling.
>
>
> Michael Mitchell
> Technical Services Librarian
> Brazosport College
> Lake Jackson, TX
> michael.mitchell at brazosport.edu 
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Leo Robert Klein
> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:22 AM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Facebook
>
> John Fereira wrote:
>   
>> Christine Zeitler wrote:
>>     
>>> One of the academic libraries at which I work is attempting to decide
>>>       
> if
>   
>>> they want to use Facebook to interact with the students.  
>>>       
>> I think that the more important question here is whether students want
>>     
>
>   
>> to use Facebook to interact with libraries.
>>     
>
> Good point but increasingly it seems as if Facebook is more an entry 
> point for various types of communication, including friends of course, 
> but also professional and personal interests.
>
> I mean, just looking at my own list, I've got the Chicago Historical 
> Society, a couple of my old schools and something called 'Static FBML' 
> whose meaning I honestly can't remember.
>
> Assuming a similar collection (adjusted for age) on the part of our 
> users and I don't think it's too exotic if the library starts banging on
>
> their Facebook door as well.
>
> LEO
>
> -- -------------------
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> www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog)
>
> aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein'
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