Week 3: Social Networking Tools

Well, it's week 3--time to try out Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. We were given permission to include as friends members of the Social Networking Task Force, but since several had the same name as a dozen or so other people and I don't know the members personally, I couldn't be sure that any I might have chosen as a friend was the right person. I did finally settle on one that seemed safe to add. If he'll have me as a friend. On Facebook, I was unable to write on a friend's wall. I guess I had to wait until my potential friends accepted my "friendship" before I could search their profiles and then write on the walls of their profiles. Why would you want to write on someone's wall? Who decided that graffiti was a friendly gesture?
I just joined the Philadelphia, PA network, since I was feeling lonely, not having any official friends yet. Now I am "connected" to many, many strangers. Hmmm, not sure how I feel about that, 'cause now they're "connected" to me, too.
I am VERY impressed with the UAB Catalog, WorldCat and PubMed applications. I wish part of this course included learning how to create such applications.
What's the difference between adding an application to my profile and becoming a fan of it?
If it weren't for the instructions for this week's course, I don't think I would know that there were such applications, or how to browse or search for something of interest. Or might something pop up if I had filled in more information on my profile?
Hmmm, LinkedIn has a different feel to it--although it can handle social contacts, it seems to be more appropriate than FaceBook for professional networking. I might actually use this in the future.
The Denver Public Library eVolver and Brooklyn College Library pages on MySpace were amazing!!! These look like very creative examples of how to create your own webpages if you don't have your own domain. I'll have to check out MySpace another time on my own.
But on to this week's questions:

• How can social networking be used by MLA to connect members?

For members contemplating a geographical move, or a move to a different type of library setting, they can connect with other members in their new or preferred setting to get information. Social networking can also be used to reconnect with members whom you've met at national MLA events, or to work with on joint committee projects--social networking could be an adjunct to a project wiki.

• Should your library have a Facebook or MySpace page?

Not at this time: our organization is too small to need to create another presence on the web.

• Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites?

You betcha there are: I don't know if I necessarily need the world to know who I am, where I'm from, where I went to school, etc., except if I were looking for a job. I still can't figure out why people use LibraryThing, for example--why do I need the world to know what I've read? Of course, if you're looking for friends, significant others, etc., you do have to put yourself out there, but the potential anonymity of these sites does make them somewhat less secure than meeting and getting to know people (in person) through your friends and contacts. It's like that line, and I hope I'm quoting this correctly, "On the web no one knows you're a dog." Someone you might "meet" online could be very different from the way they describe themselves.

• What did you like or not like about your experience with Facebook or MySpace?

Searching seemed a little clunky; also, if I didn't know something was there, browsing was not all that helpful.
But all in all, this was an interesting exercise, and I'll probably go back and explore some more later.