Social Networking - Week 3

This past week we were to check out and evaluate some social networking sites. The three sites were Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace. Interesting enough, I found these three to be quite different from one another, and they seemed to focus on different social groups.

My personal evaluation on Facebook is that it seems to be geared mostly for the twenty- and thirty-somethings, although any age group seems to fit in. I found this resource to be a mostly social site among professional types of people. The social aspect allows one to connect with others within your own or other networks. Other social perks are one's ability to upload photos, videos, or music. You can also (on your own page/site) add links to other organizations - much like a short-cut. One can write on another friend's "wall" -- a form of message board. As for the professional side of things, the information you get to input about yourself, such as your education and your job/career. You can also add other personal interests, such as favorite movies, books, music, etc.

LinkedIn, on the other hand, comes across as a strictly professional and adult (post college) "social" network. This particular site connects one with "friends" whom you may have graduated with, but only on a college/university level. Other searches are processed by the names of companies one may have worked for, and looks for other people who may be working at the same company you presently work for, or worked for in the past. Facebook allows you to search for "friends" from high school as well as college; LinkedIn does not give you that option.

MySpace, for those unfamiliar with it, is mostly for teenagers, high school age and college age. The web site's home page is quite "busy." The graphics seem to be oriented to today's entertainment media - celebrity info; what's hot on TV or the movies; what's the most popular music/song/artist. They even feature top videos on "MySpace TV." This, to me, is very youth oriented, definitely not professional. The assignment for MySpace was to check out Denver Public Library's "eVolver" and Brooklyn College Library. I was quite impressed with these two sites, and I can certainly see why they would be on MySpace. Denver Public Library is attempting to globally reach out or solicit the young people to influence them to use the library's resources, either in person or online. I think that is an excellent marketing resource. Brooklyn College Library's website is geared only for the students attending the college, but again, is an excellent way to reach out to those students who may be using MySpace.

One of the questions for our assignment was "how can social networking be used by MLA to connect members?" Personally, I would lean toward Facebook. I would recommend that MLA create a "group" on Facebook (probably called MLA, or Medical Librarian Association) and allow MLA members to join so that we librarians can socially network with each other. This would be an excellent way of networking since we would not have to remember everyone's email address for those we may want to contact. The best part about this is that if someone should have a question, they can post it. And those who may have an answer can post it to the group's wall or to the member's own wall. This same sort of thing can also be done in LinkedIn. Facebook also allows you to post events, such as the annual MLA meeting, or even chapter meetings. It's a good place to also post upcoming Webcast classes, etc.

Another question: Should your library have a Facebook or MySpace page?
I work in a community hospital, one of many other hospitals owned by a Corporation. These types of medical libraries would not have a use for Facebook, and certainly not for MySpace. First of all, access to such would be (and presently are) blocked. These types of networking tools are more on the social side of things and would not be appropriate or appropriately used in our environment.